Thabeikkyin Town in Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin Township was captured and many weapons were seized on 25 August 2024, by NUG commanded people’s defence forces (PDFs).
Members of 11 PDF groups under the NUG’s 1st Military Region Command launched an offensive against Thabeikkyin Town in Pyin Oo Lwin District on 17 August. They successfully completed the capture of the town on 25 August, according to a statement from the NUG’s 1st Military Region Command, whose area covers Thabeikkyin Town.
In taking the town, the PDFs captured Lieutenant Colonel Soe Min Thu, a senior junta officer stationed there. They also seized 18,669 rounds of ammunition, 42 grenades, 36 rocket-propelled grenades, three jammers and other military equipment.
The PDF groups revealed that four of their fighters had been killed and that there had been an, as yet, undisclosed number of junta casualties.
Thabeikkyin Town had been host to the junta’s Basic Military Training Depot 2 (BMTD-2) and three junta battalions as well as about 130 police officers and members of the junta-aligned Pyu Saw Htee militia. To capture the town the PDFs launched coordinated attacks on all the bases and junta positions in the town.
During the battle for Thabeikkyin Town junta jet fighters dropped over 170 bombs on the town and junta Y-12 aircraft dropped a further 150 bombs.
The first time a Mandalay Region town fell to resistance forces was when Mandalay PDF (MDY-PDF) captured Singu Town on 20 July 2024.
A few days later, on 24 July, Mogok Town in Mandalay Region was captured by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and PDF forces.
On 12 August Tagaung Town in Thabeikkyin Township was captured by PDF forces under the NUG’s 1st Military Region Command
PDF forces are currently intensifying their offensives to capture junta bases in Madaya Town, Mandalay Region, whilst also launching attacks on Tigyaing Town in neighbouring Sagaing Region.
