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December 20, 2023

2023, third week of December, military affairs summary

Myanmar Now

During the third week of December 2023, the PDFs were able to crush Military Council’s bases near strategic roads while the TBA won major victories in Northern Shan and Rakhine states. Under the leadership of Military Zone (1) Katha District, the PDFs, KPDF, ABSDF, and local defence and administration bodies seized Mawlu Town located at the critical location on the Shwebo-Myitkyina Highway at 6 AM, December 13. Allied forces retrieved 14 Military Council corpses, 7 Prisoners of War, 22 small arms, 24 grenades, over 3,500 various ammunitions.

The PDFs have now positioned themselves on communication routes in Sagaing Region and Kachin State.Similarly on December 13, PDFs, the Karen National Liberation Army and other allied forces seized Nyaung Pin Police Station in Pyu Township located about 2 miles from the Yangon-Mandalay Highway in the central part of the country. About 30 of the 60 enemy officers were killed and 9 small arms and over 600 various ammunitionss were seized.

Furthermore, the Tharrawaddy District Battalion (3802) attacked the Military Council’s gate on the Bago Yoma in Minhla Township, Bago Region and killed one soldier and a police officer. In addition, the Tharrawaddy District Battalion (3802) regularly meets civilians in villages to the east of the Yangon-Pyay road. This highlights that the PDFs and allied forces have taken control of areas to the east and west of the Bago Yoma and highways. The White Dragon Column has also stated that it has taken control of the Asian trade route after nearly two years of fighting in Kawkareik Town on the crucial Thai-Myanmar trade route in the northern part of the country. The PDFs are currently fighting a police station near the highway section close to Mawlu Town, part of the northern region communication route, as well as trade routes to the south.

There is ongoing heavy fighting at the 105-mile checkpoint in Muse Township near the border with China, a crucial trade route for the entire nation, and the Military Council has launched multiple rockets with helicopters and aircrafts there. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) seized the Military Council-owned Shwe Phi Oo dried tea leaves factory in Namsan Town, Shan State and seems likely to take over the entire township soon.

The TNLA have seized 60 types of enemy bases in Northern Shan after Operation 1027 commenced, according to TNLA spokesperson Lt-Col Tar Aik Kyaw. Similarly, the Arakan Army has stated it has seized 142 enemy bases between the start of Operation 1027 to December 10. Meanwhile, in the battle to take over Hnone Buu, a strategic outpost in Paletwa Township of Chin State, the strategist Colonel Banyar Paing Soe of Tayza (29) was killed.

As a result, it is evident that the Military Councilhas suffered significant losses in Northern Shan and Rakhine states during the third week of December.

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