Myanmar’s junta has lost communication with senior officers at a major military base in northeastern Myanmar, marking a rare admission of battlefield defeat. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a powerful ethnic rebel group, alongside allied resistance forces, claims to have taken control of the Lashio military base, the strategic garrison town in Shan state. This base serves as the headquarters for the junta’s Northeastern Military Command.
Since late June, the MNDAA has intensified its offensive to capture Lashio, the largest town in Shan state, which is crucial to the junta’s power in the region near the Chinese border. On July 25, the MNDAA announced they had “won a decisive victory” after a 23-day operation and declared Lashio “fully liberated.” This was followed by the capture of several senior army commanders, including a major general, a significant blow to the junta.
#Myanmar 🇲🇲: for the first time in the country’s history the junta has lost control of a regional command center.#MNDAA forces raise their flag over the Northeastern regional command in #Lashio (#Shan state) after seizing the military base. pic.twitter.com/ZY8SlS26sJ
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) August 3, 2024
The junta’s spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, confirmed the loss of communication with the officers at the base, criticizing the MNDAA for breaking a ceasefire established in January. Despite these claims, images and videos circulating on social media show MNDAA troops in control of strategic locations within Lashio, including the railway station and the broadcast station.
The capture of Lashio represents the most significant victory for the resistance since the coup in 2021, potentially marking a turning point in the ongoing civil war. The conflict, characterized by brutal attacks on civilians and mass displacement, has seen more than 3 million people displaced. Analysts suggest the fall of Lashio could indicate a significant weakening of the Myanmar military, with implications for the junta’s control over large parts of the country.
In response, allied ethnic armies along the Thai and Indian borders have expressed support for the MNDAA, vowing to continue fighting until the military regime is overthrown. This coalition of resistance forces aims to intensify efforts to dismantle the junta’s hold over Myanmar, further complicating the already volatile situation.
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