The military regime has been conducting operations in Madaya in northern Mandalay Region since Nov. 9, targeting the bases of anti-regime groups that threaten Mandalay city and attempting to recapture lucrative gold mines.
The operations include airstrikes and attacks from gunboats on the Irrawaddy River.
Madaya is approximately 40 km north of Mandalay. During the second phase of the resistance Brotherhood Alliance’s Operation 1027 in July, clashes came as close to the city as Htidawmoe village about 13 km from Mandalay, where the regime’s 5th Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Battalion and the 2nd Recruit Training Depot (RTD-2), are stationed.
Mandalay Palace, which houses the Myanmar military’ Central Command, has also come under rocket attack from the resistance.
The alliance’s current offensive in Madaya involves the People’s Defense Force–Mandalay (MDY-PDF) along with anti-regime groups from Madaya, Pauk, and Pyin Oo Lwin townships, and the Mandalay Urban Guerrilla Force (Generation Z Power-GZP).
A Madaya PDF member said, “The junta can’t afford to lose control of Madaya. If our forces can control the town, it will be easier for us to attack Mandalay, so it wants to establish a defensive buffer.”
Anti-regime groups say the junta also aims to retake gold mines in eastern Madaya.
“The regime is trying to retake control of gold mines in eastern Madaya from the Mandalay PDF, and establish a buffer for Mandalay in Madaya,” one battlefield source said. “It needs to control the whole of Madaya Township to keep Mandalay safe.”
On Sunday, intense fighting erupted near riverside villages west of Madaya, according to local anti-regime outlets The Voice of Wetlet Madayar and Voice of MDY.
A military analyst said: “The military is launching offensives in Madaya to preempt resistance attacks. Due to its proximity to the river, they are using naval forces. If the resistance groups can control Madaya, they can effectively threaten Mandalay Palace.”
The regime has carried out a dozen airstrikes with helicopters and fighter jets. Two warships from Mandalay’s Yadanabon sailed upstream and bombarded riverside villages.
“The regime apparently wants to control the river in western Madaya to prevent anti-regime groups from Sagaing from crossing the Irrawaddy and advancing on Mandalay,” a source said.
The junta deployed 122 mm howitzers on a football pitch in Madaya to support its ground troops, while artillery strikes were heard from north and west of Mandalay.
MDY-PDF spokesman Ko Osmond confirmed to The Irrawaddy that fighting is ongoing in western Madaya and the MDY-PDF is involved but declined to give further details.
Clashes continue in eastern Madaya as well, with artillery shelling and airstrikes by the military junta causing civilian casualties.
