Regime regains 11.3% of lost territory in northern Shan State: research group

By Admin 13 Nov 2025

DMG Newsroom

13 November 2025, Lashio, Northern Shan State

Myanmar's military regime has regained control of 11.3 percent of the territory it lost in northern Shan State during "Operation 1027," according to a report released on November 12 by the Institute for Strategic and Policy Studies (ISP-Myanmar).

The regime has reportedly retaken Lashio, Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Momeik and Mogok, including the towns of Lashio, Momeik and Mogok, which were recaptured from revolutionary forces with Chinese assistance.

Although the military has regained the towns of Momeik and Mongko from the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) under the China-brokered Kunming Dialogue Agreement, it has yet to fully reassert control over them.

Anti-regime forces that fought alongside the TNLA have vowed to resist the junta's attempts to capture Mogok, and there are reports that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) will assist resistance forces in defending Momeik.

"There were many resistance forces involved in the battles for control of Mogok and Momeik. The resistance forces did not agree with the TNLA's unilateral decision to return the towns to the military. That is why we see them gathering strength to defend Mogok with all their might. We have also heard that the KIA will support local anti-regime forces in defending Momeik, so the military will not find it easy," said a young man who studies northern Shan affairs.

During the Three Brotherhood Alliance-led "Operation 1027," the military lost 58.3 percent of northern Shan State but has now regained 11.3 percent of that territory with Chinese support following a renewed offensive.

The ISP-Myanmar report also noted that the regime has regained control of 44.4 percent of the Mandalay-Muse trade route, suggesting it is prioritising towns important to China-Myanmar border trade.

"I think the Myanmar military is implementing a grand strategy to hold a sham election and then try to gain legitimacy, expand the army, and rule through fear indefinitely. That is why the regime is attacking economically important areas before the election. Afterward, it might relax its grip," said a former Arakanese politician.

The report added that the regime's control remains limited mainly to urban areas, while ethnic armed organisations continue to dominate most rural and mountainous regions.

It also observed that the regime is attempting to restore governance and provide public services in the towns it holds, while both the military and ethnic armed groups operate in parallel in surrounding rural areas.