Junta Reclaims Thabeikkyin, Strikes Blow to Resistance in Gold Belt

[geovalin]

 

 

Myanmar’s military junta has retaken most of Thabeikkyin, a key gold-mining town in Mandalay Region, after nearly a year under resistance control—marking a symbolic and strategic victory for regime forces.

 

On Wednesday, junta troops entered central Thabeikkyin following days of fierce clashes with anti-regime forces, ending an 11-month hold by the Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MDY PDF) and its allies. Though the regime has declared success, resistance fighters say the battle is far from over.

 

“The situation here is very complicated now,” a member of MDY PDF told The Irrawaddy, insisting that fighting was ongoing despite the junta’s presence in the town.

 

Images shared by pro-military accounts show soldiers posing outside key municipal buildings, including the town hall and hospital—signs of the regime’s intent to demonstrate control. But resistance leaders have cautioned against calling it a clean victory.

 

Thabeikkyin, 100 kilometres north of Mandalay City, lies on the Irrawaddy River—a critical supply artery linking the military’s central command to upper Sagaing and Kachin State, where conflict remains intense. Control of this river town gives the junta not just a logistical foothold but also a morale boost amid growing internal and external pressure.

 

The recapture is the third in July alone, following regime gains in Mobye on 2 July and Nawnghkio on 16 July. Together, the three reversals hint at a renewed military push to claw back territory lost since the 2021 coup.

 

Thabeikkyin’s fall is especially notable given its role in Operation Shan-Man—a coordinated resistance campaign that saw joint ethnic and PDF forces seize towns across Shan and Mandalay regions last year.

 

Just 75km east lies Mogoke, the fabled ruby town still held by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), one of the most active ethnic resistance groups. The TNLA recently withdrew from nearby Nawnghkio, raising questions about whether Thabeikkyin’s defenders may face similar pressure to retreat.

 

Still, resistance fighters on the ground remain defiant. “The enemy controlled half the town on Monday,” said Daw Ni Ni Kyaw of the People’s Liberation Army, “but we have received no updates since.” For now, the junta may hold Thabeikkyin—but not without a fight.

 

-2025-07-24