Myanmar’s military has announced the capture of a vital resistance command headquarters and 10 other bases located in the country’s southern region. State media reported the development on Tuesday, highlighting a significant gain for the army as it attempts to consolidate control over territories that have long been held by various opposition forces.
The reported military operation spanned six days and concluded recently, targeting jungle territory that straddles the border between Mon and Bago. According to the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper, the seized positions included the special region command headquarters of the National Unity Government (NUG), as well as a battalion headquarters belonging to the Karen National Liberation Army, which serves as the armed wing of the Karen National Union.
While this claim has not been independently verified—as the military prohibits journalists from accessing the region—there has been no formal challenge to the report. Photos published in the state media displayed soldiers alongside seized items, including ammunition, small arms, vehicles, drones, and computer equipment. The military stated that it would maintain security operations in the area following these four armed engagements.
The conflict in this region, situated approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of Yangon, has intensified significantly since the military takeover in February 2021. That event displaced the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered widespread protests, which were met with violent suppression and eventually led to the current civil war. The military-backed government, which took office in April following controversial elections, has recently escalated both ground operations and airstrikes to reclaim territory controlled by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) and various ethnic militias.
Prior to this operation, the NUG’s special region command headquarters had stated on social media that it oversaw 12 PDF battalions, seven drones with specialized support units, and six combat and defense units. It had been conducting operations across the Bago region as well as the southern Kayin and Mon states. In a separate incident at the end of September, the NUG reported that its communications outpost was struck by fighter jet airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of five personnel.
Requests for comment from the NUG and the Karen National Union regarding the latest reported losses were not immediately answered.
