In the ongoing battle for control in Myanmar’s Mandalay Region, junta forces, supported by artillery and airstrikes, have forced anti-regime resistance groups to retreat from key areas in Madaya Township. The People’s Defense Forces (PDF), along with other resistance groups, had been holding several strategic positions since June but are now facing intensified military assaults from the junta.
According to a member of the Madaya Township People’s Defense Team, junta troops deployed additional artillery units and air support, compelling the resistance to retreat from former junta bases they had seized earlier this year. The resistance fighter noted the scale of the attacks but refused to disclose how many bases they were forced to abandon.
Resistance Gains and Retaliation
Despite these setbacks, resistance forces still maintain control over 35 former junta positions, including an airbase and a base near the Sedawgyi Dam, east of Madaya town, according to Mandalay PDF spokesman Ko Osmond. However, junta troops have reinforced their presence in eight villages in the western part of Madaya Township, signaling the regime’s intent to regain control of the area.
Generation Z Power, a local resistance group, described the fierce battles in the village of Thone-sel-pay, stating that they had never experienced such intense artillery bombardments before. The group managed to hold their ground until airstrikes forced them to retreat. The resistance claims that at least 70 junta soldiers were killed during these airstrikes, although independent verification of these numbers remains challenging due to the chaotic situation on the ground.
The junta reportedly targeted Thone-sel-pay because they believed the resistance was using the village to launch homemade rocket attacks on Mandalay Palace, home to the military’s Central Command.
Civilian Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis
The junta’s ongoing shelling has had devastating consequences for civilians. During the battle for Thone-sel-pay, artillery fire killed a mother, her eight-year-old daughter, her infant son, an elderly woman, and her grandson, as well as a five-year-old boy in neighboring Sulegon village. Several others, including two children aged six and eight, were injured.
The violence has led to widespread fear among local residents, with families being displaced as they flee the fighting. Resistance groups have warned civilians in nearby areas to stay away from junta positions and dig bomb shelters as the regime prepares to extend its offensive.
Junta’s Counteroffensive and Strategic Objectives
Since launching its counteroffensive in late September, the Myanmar junta has deployed around 400 soldiers, along with Pyu Saw Htee militia allies, to recapture villages along the Irrawaddy River, northwest of Mandalay. The junta’s counterattack was particularly focused on Thone-sel-pay, a strategic village located about 16 kilometers from Mandalay city, in a bid to secure a stronghold closer to the country’s second-largest city.
Madaya, located near Mandalay, has become a focal point in the broader conflict between the junta and resistance forces. Anti-regime groups in the area began their operations on June 25, seizing around 35 junta bases and outposts, leading to significant gains for the resistance. However, the junta’s recent efforts to reclaim lost territory, particularly through airstrikes and heavy artillery, have forced the resistance to regroup and adopt more defensive strategies.
Outlook and Ongoing Conflict
The situation in Madaya highlights the escalating conflict between the Myanmar military and the resistance forces that have sprung up since the junta’s coup in February 2021. Resistance groups, including the Mandalay PDF and others, have become increasingly organized and bold, launching coordinated attacks against junta positions. However, the junta’s ability to deploy heavy firepower, including airstrikes, has allowed it to maintain its grip on many parts of the country.
Despite these military setbacks, resistance groups remain determined, continuing their efforts to destabilize the junta’s control. The battle for Madaya, situated in such close proximity to Mandalay city, could be a pivotal front in the broader struggle for control of central Myanmar. With both sides entrenched and civilian casualties mounting, the conflict shows no signs of abating, leaving many towns and villages caught in the crossfire.
As the junta gathers more troops and resources to press its advantage, local resistance forces are warning of potential large-scale attacks east of Madaya. Anti-regime leaders are advising civilians to take shelter and avoid junta-controlled areas as tensions continue to escalate in the region.
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