The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and allies have captured two dozen junta military bases, including an artillery battalion headquarters, in two townships of northern Shan State and a third in upper Mandalay Region since relaunching Operation 1027 three days ago, the ethnic army said on Thursday.
It resumed Operation 1027 in Kyaukme and Nawnghkio Townships near the border with Mandalay Region in northern Shan State as well as Mogoke, a township that borders Nawnghkio in upper Mandalay on Tuesday, saying it was reacting to repeated violations of the China-brokered ceasefire deal this month by the junta’s military.
The three townships are southwest of Lashio, the junta-controlled capital of northern Shan State. The road connecting Lashio to Mandalay runs through them.
The TNLA has been joined by troops from the Mandalay People’s Defense Force (PDF), which has expanded Operation 1027 to upper Mandalay. The PDF is under the control of the civilian National Unity Government.
Early Thursday, TNLA troops attacked the headquarters of the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 115 and another junta position at Ohn Makhar village, the ethnic army said. Both are near Nawnghkio town.
TNLA troops also attacked the headquarters of military battalion 114 in Nawnghkio town on Thursday and the junta sent a Y12 airplane and a fighter jet to defend the base, the TNLA said.
Along with troops from the Mandalay PDF, the TNLA also attacked and seized the headquarters of junta Missile Battalion 606 in Nawnghkio shortly before noon today, the TNLA said, adding that the junta responded with airstrikes.
The TNLA and allied PDFs took control of Nawnghkio town on Tuesday after seizing junta positions, including the headquarters of Light Infantry Battalion 115, in and near the town. The town is about a one-hour drive from the garrison town of Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay Region.
TNLA and Mandalay PDF troops also attacked the headquarters of two junta Light Infantry Battalions (501 and 502) in Kyaukme town on Thursday morning, residents of the town confirmed. Kyaukme is northeast of Nawnghio and Pyin Oo Lwin is southwest. All three towns are linked by the Lashio Road (Route 3).
A resident of Kyaukme told The Irrawaddy, “Fighting is occurring in the town and no civilians dare to go outside their homes.” The source said junta troops were using drones in the battle in the town.
Residents said the TNLA has taken control of many sections of Kyaukme town since it captured its police station and the headquarters of a junta artillery battalion at the town’s entrance on Wednesday.
During Wednesday’s battles, the junta aircraft and artillery units bombed the town. They killed four civilians and injured 15 more, residents of the town said. On Tuesday, junta airstrikes in the township killed two civilians and injured three more, the TNLA said.
The TNLA said 17 regime troops surrendered during clashes in Kyaukme town on Wednesday evening.
It also attacked a military base at a religious site in Mogoke Township in northern Mandalay on Thursday morning.
“The junta is bombing the town and the situation is very bad here. We had to find a place to hide,” a resident of Mogoke town told The Irrawaddy. Mogoke is famous for its rubies and other precious gems.
A female resident of the town was killed and homes were destroyed by junta airstrikes, local media reports say.
Mandalay PDF said that it has also seized three junta bases in Mandaya Township and continued its attempt to seize the junta’s Air Defense Battalion Headquarters 1014 in the township in northern Mandalay on Wednesday. It has launched attacks on regime positions in upper Mandalay since Tuesday as part of the resumption of Operation 1027.
The TNLA is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, which launched Operation 1027 in northern Shan State on October 27 last year. The alliance swiftly captured 24 junta battalion headquarters and military command centers and hundreds of frontline bases, as well as about 20 towns and vital trade routes with China.
The offensive was halted on January 10 after the alliance agreed to a China-brokered ceasefire with the regime.
