TNLA says Nawnghkio relinquished to protect civilians from regime onslaught

By Admin 05 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

5 August 2025, Nawnghkio, northern Shan State

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has said it was forced to relinquish Nawnghkio in Shan State to protect civilians from a heavy onslaught by Myanmar's military regime.

During the battle for control of Nawnghkio, many civilians were killed and injured due to regime airstrikes, bombings, and artillery fire, according to TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo.

"The military regime has been bombing civilians and carrying out airstrikes, resulting in many civilian casualties. Therefore, we decided to withdraw from Nawnghkio to prevent civilian casualties," she told reporters at an online press conference on Tuesday, explaining the ethnic armed group's decision to retreat from Nawnghkio.

An anti-regime coalition force led by the TNLA seized control of Nawnghkio in July 2024, with the junta recapturing it about a year later.

The military regime said it had launched an offensive combining ground forces with artillery and airstrikes to recapture Nawnghkio, with 586 battles reportedly fought during the operation.

Lway Yay Oo said the military regime is currently pressing with airstrikes and ground forces to retake Mandalay Region's Mogok, which is controlled by the TNLA.

"Mogok has been hit hardest by the military regime's airstrikes. There has not been any heavy fighting yet, but we are prepared with our allies to defend ourselves if an attack comes," she said. The military regime has declared martial law in 63 townships where it has lost partial or total control to anti-junta forces, and has since intensified its airstrikes against the resistance.

Zin Yaw, a captain of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), said it was difficult to know what factors were driving decisions like the TNLA withdrawal from Nawnghkio. He added that dynamics within the Three Brotherhood Alliance, of which the TNLA is a member, may be playing a part.

"I don't see the Three Brotherhood Alliance as militarily weak. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) has also signed a ceasefire with the military regime. The TNLA is also holding back the military regime's offensive momentum. The AA is also militarily tense with the military regime in Kyaukphyu.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance is under some pressure to not launch an offensive," explained Zin Yaw, a junta defector.The TNLA says it is under pressure from China to reach a peace deal with the Myanmar regime.

Political and military analysts predict that fighting could intensify as the military regime, which is seeking to hold elections by the end of this year, is making desperate efforts to regain lost territory.