Pro-regime media reported on Thursday that regime forces killed a total of 61 “terrorists” in 21 days of its “counter-terrorism operation” to retake control of northern Shan State’s Kyaukme town from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) on Wednesday.
“The regime troops are in the town,” a Kyaukme resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that the gunfire was coming from only one direction. The number of casualties was not reported from either the regime or the TNLA.
Kyaukme, located 68 miles (109 km) southwest of the regional capital Lashio, was seized by the TNLA in August 2024. Regime media reported that the TNLA fought alongside the Danu People’s Liberation Army (DPLA) and the People’s Defence Force (PDF).
It claimed that the TNLA-led forces set fire to government offices, including the power station, police station, and fire services department, on Sept. 30. The TNLA announced on Oct. 1 that regime forces used Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, to drop incendiary bombs on these buildings.
Airstrikes were carried out on Namtu and Manton on Oct. 2, but no casualties were reported by the TNLA. Namtu and Manton are located 42-105 miles (67-169 km) west of Lashio.
Namtu was seized by the TNLA in December 2023. Manton is part of the Palaung Self-Administered Zone (SAZ) in northern Shan State, which was recognized under the military’s 2008 Constitution.
Another airstrike injured one civilian in Mandalay Region’s Mogok Township on Oct. 1. The ruby mining hub of Mogok was seized by the TNLA on July 24, 2024.
Zin Yaw, a Myanmar Army defector who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) after the 2021 military coup, told DVB that this regime counteroffensive in northern Shan, which began in Nawnghkio Township, will continue from Kyaukme to Hsipaw Township.
Hsipaw is located 22 miles (35 km) east of Kyaukme and 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Lashio. It was seized by the TNLA on Oct. 13.
The Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) reported that over 10,000 residents of Kyaukme and Hsipaw were forced to flee their homes due to fighting between regime forces and the TNLA on Sept. 24.
The regime Union Election Commission (UEC) has scheduled polls to be held in 38 of Shan State’s total 55 townships, including Kyaukme and Hsipaw. The regime scheduled elections will begin on Dec. 28 with polls being held in 274 out of Myanmar’s total 330 townships, according to the UEC.
During China-brokered peace talks between the regime and the TNLA, Naypyidaw demanded the surrender of all towns seized by the TNLA since Operation 1027 on Oct. 27, 2023. This does not include Manton and Namhsan, which are recognized as a part of the Palaung SAZ.
Three rounds of talks hosted by China have failed between the regime and the TNLA, which still controls Momeik, Manton, Namtu, Kutkai, Hsipaw, Namhsan, Monglon, Namhkam and Mongngaw townships in northern Shan, as well as Mogok in neighbouring Mandalay.
