The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) says it has seized the headquarters of the junta’s Northeastern Command base in Lashio, the capital of northern Shan State, after a month of fighting.
The armed group on July 25 claimed to have seized the command but fighting continued until Saturday morning.
It released photos of its troops beside the base’s signboard on Saturday after defeating the last regime troops.
MNDAA troops raise their flag at the seized Northeastern Command headquarters in Lashio on Saturday. / John Minh’s Facebook
The MNDAA, a member of the Brotherhood Alliance that launched Operation 1027 in October last year, and its allies resumed attacks on junta positions defending Lashio on July 3.
Clashes were reported in northern Shan State on Friday as the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and its allies attacked the headquarters of the junta’s Light Infantry battalions 501 and 502 outside Kyaukme town.
The TNLA, another Brotherhood Alliance member, reported seven junta airstrikes and said a Y12 airplane dropped more than 30 bombs and supplies to the two battalion headquarters.
The armed group seized the strategically important town of Kyaukme soon after resuming Operation 1027 on June 25. The town on the Mandalay-Lashio-Muse road controls a key trade route with China.
Fighting was reported in Nawnghkio Township as the TNLA attacked regime reinforcements sent to Thae Khaw village on Friday afternoon. A junta Mi-35 helicopter attacked TNLA troops, the armed group said.
The Brotherhood Alliance seized numerous junta outposts and command centers, 24 battalion headquarters, around 17 towns and trade routes with China during the first phase of Operation 1027 that ended with a Chinese-brokered ceasefire on January 10.
Attacks resumed on June 25 in northern Shan State and northern Mandalay Region, seizing six more towns and several battalion headquarters.
