Rebel group claims to have captured a town from the Myanmar military

Fighting has erupted across Myanmar's Shan State since three rebel groups, the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), launched a joint offensive against the military in late October.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on December 14 that the Myanmar military and the three-group alliance had agreed to a temporary ceasefire and maintain dialogue through peace talks brokered by Beijing, Reuters reported. There have been periods of peace in areas held by the MNDAA, but clashes continue in areas controlled by the TNLA and AA.

The TNLA claimed to have captured the town of Namhsan on December 15 after launching an attack on the area two weeks ago. "We have captured the town," AFP quoted TNLA member Tar Bhone Kyaw as saying. The TNLA also posted a video on Facebook, showing the group's leaders visiting the town of Namhsan and talking to captured Myanmar army soldiers.

Photo taken on December 13 shows members of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) group preparing weapons during clashes with the Myanmar military in Namhsan town, Shan State.

Myanmar military spokesman Zaw Min Tun also told MRTV on December 16 that fighting was still continuing around Namhsan.

According to Mr. Tar Bhone Kyaw, the Myanmar military also lost the 105 Mile Trade Zone, a major trade route on the border with China in Muse town in Shan state.

In total, the three-group alliance claims it has seized 422 bases and seven towns from the Myanmar military since October 27, according to AFP.

Meanwhile, at least 378 civilians have been killed and more than 660,000 displaced in Myanmar since late October, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA added that more than 2.6 million people have fled their homes since the Myanmar military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, according to NHK.

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