Myanmar Military Promises Retaliation as Ethnic Armed Groups Seize Outposts and Towns in Northern Offensive

Over 23,000 reforced to flee northern Shan state as Myanmar Ethnic Allied Groups press offensive, seizing dozens of outposts and obstructing key trade routes to China amidst vows of military retaliation.

Ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, particularly the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA), have launched an offensive against the military junta, seizing numerous outposts and four towns in the northern Shan state.
The armed groups have successfully obstructed vital trade routes to China, impacting the area's economy and triggering concerns from Chinese authorities, which have called for an immediate ceasefire.
The fighting in Shan state has caused more than 23,000 people to flee their homes and has significantly disrupted transport infrastructure, including the destruction of a vital bridge.
Myanmar's military junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has vowed to launch counterattacks against the ethnic armed groups, despite initial dismissals of their successful seizures as 'propaganda'.
The defensive alliance's offensive, dubbed Operation 1027, is seen as re-energizing the nationwide armed struggle against the military regime and has so far resulted in more than 90 military targets being seized and over 100 soldiers surrendering.