The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and its allies have reportedly seized Nawnghkio town and many regime positions in nearby Kyaukme town in northern Shan State.
Junta administration offices fell in Nawnghkio and regime artillery strikes targeted residential areas of the town on Wednesday morning, residents told the Shan media.
The TNLA on Wednesday said it attacked the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 115 outside the town. It is also attacking Artillery Battalion 352 and Sakhan Tha hill outside Kyaukme, the TNLA said.
A Kyaukme resident told The Irrawaddy: “Clashes continue and civilians are trapped in the town. There is a power and phone blackout.”
The TNLA said 17 junta troops surrendered in Kyaukme on Wednesday.
Junta troops surrender to the TNLA during a clash in Kyaukme town on Wednesday evening. / TNLA
Four members of a Kyaukme family were killed by junta shelling of their home, Shan News reported, citing residents.
On Tuesday, two civilians were reportedly killed by regime shelling of residential areas.
The TNLA said it attacked a junta hilltop base in Mogoke Township, northern Mandalay Region, on Wednesday.
Mogoke residents told The Irrawaddy that the junta is using airstrikes to defend the hilltop base. People’s Defense Forces stopped civilians approaching the clash site in Mogoke.
The revival of Operation 1027 follows repeated junta violations of the January 10 China-brokered ceasefire with the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the TNLA. The armed group reported numerous bombardments of its territory this month.
Three TNLA troops and a 10-year-old were killed and eight others injured, including four soldiers, by junta shelling and airstrikes, the armed group said.
The Brotherhood Alliance, which also includes the Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, launched Operation 1027 – named after its start date of October 27 – against the junta in northern Shan State.
It seized 24 junta battalion headquarters and command centers and hundreds of frontline bases during the operation. The junta lost control of more than half of northern Shan State, including around 20 towns and vital trade routes with China.
The operation was halted on January 10 after the Brotherhood Alliance agreed to a China-brokered ceasefire with the regime.