23 July 2025
Thabeikkyin Township in Thabeikkyin District, Mandalay Region, is the northernmost township in the region. It is a port town on the east bank of Ayeyawady and is bordering towns in Kachin State, Sagaing Region and Shan State (North). Thabeikkyin is only 77 miles from Mandalay by river. Large ships of Inland Water Transport are sailing to and from between Bhamo and Myitkyina and there are ferry boats travelling up and down the river between Mandalay and Thabeikkyin. Hence, it was a busy river port and a town with good trade. It is nearly 40 miles from Mogok which serves as transit to Momeik, Bhamo and Myitkyina in Kachin State and Kyaukme and Hsipaw in Shan State (North). The town is connected with Mandalay by a road measuring about 60 miles. Hence, it is a transport hub.
A combined group of terrorist insurgents, TNLA and PDF, started to attack security out-posts and units and battalions in Thabeikkyin Township, a center town, and towns and villages on 18 August 2024 via Momeik and Mogok townships with all their strength. They then committed terrorist acts such as torching local people’s homes, looting public property. In this regard, locals had to leave behind their property and flee to safer places.
As the casualty rate rose and the number of enemy forces grew, security forces set up buffer areas systematically retreating in phase by phase.
They joined with the local battalion near the 7th-mile village, set up a no-retreat defence line and halted the enemy offensive with a counter-defensive strategy. They took time in preparing a counterattack through the air transport system.
After making administrative and other reinforcements, Tatmadaw troops took some aerial supporting fire and supporting fire from naval boats and artillery troops launched the counterterrorism operation harmoniously from air, land and river. Tatmadaw columns collected ground information and started to clear the enemy from the surrounding areas of the battalion HQ and then launched the counterterrorism operation in Thabeikkyin Township, which was under the control of terrorist insurgents. They then advanced step by step from the places they took foothold and recaptured 6th-mile village, under control of terrorist insurgents, in Thabeikkyin Township on 30 June 2025, the 5th-mile village on 5 July, 4th-mile village and tower hill near it on 17 July and finally, the entire Thabeikkyin today.
Tatmadaw columns fought fiercely, risking their lives with-out hesitation, to retake Thabeikkyin town and its surrounding areas. During the 11-month operation period, there were 17 major battles and 45 clashes with terrorist insurgents, resulting in the seizure of 51 enemy corpses, 112 various weapons, and related equipment.
While the TNLA group and the so-called PDF terrorist groups temporarily occupied and controlled Thabeikkyin town and its surrounding areas, they were found to have com-mitted destructive acts such as setting up bunkers inside religious buildings, schools, government offices, hospitals, and residential homes to attack Tatmadaw columns. They also used the abandoned homes of displaced local civilians as defensive barriers to fire upon security forces. Additionally, they broke into civilian homes and market stalls, forcibly stealing valuables, food, and house-hold goods. They also planted mines and destroyed public roads used by civilians.
The Tatmadaw columns have begun mine clearance operations in Thabeikkyin town to ensure the safe return and resettlement of displaced local civilians. Civilians who wish to return to their homes and resume their socio-economic livelihoods are urged to report systematically to the relevant security forces for coordination. Meanwhile, the respective regional government is working with departmental staff to quickly restore government administrative mechanisms, schools, and hospitals. We proudly present these victorious combat reports of the triumphant Myanmar Tatmadaw members.
