TNLA Completes Capture of All Three Regiments in Hsipaw Town

Narinjara News, 16 October 2024

Since the junta battalions—the 503rd Light Infantry Regiment, the 504th Light Infantry Regiment, and the 23rd Infantry Regiment—based in Hsipaw Town, Shan State, were successfully captured, the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) now controls Hsipaw Town in its entirety.

During the second wave of Operation 1027, the PSLF/TNLA successfully took control of five towns in total after completely taking Hsipaw Town on October 13, 2024.

Naungcho, Mogok, Mongmit, Kyaukme, and Hsipaw are among the towns.

On July 20, the TNLA/PSLF began an offensive against the junta regiments in Hsipaw Township.

According to a statement from the PSLF/TNLA dated October 15, they took control of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, the 504th Light Infantry Regiment, the 503rd Light Infantry Regiment, and several government offices, including the police station, at 1:00 pm on October 13, after more than two months of fighting.

During the combat, 155 different weapons, including a howitzer, seven 60mm mortars, one 81mm mortar, two RPGs, nine machine guns, mines, other ammo, and military equipment, were taken from the junta.

During the PSLF/TNLA and allied troops' onslaught, the junta targeted civilian targets in Hsipaw Town, resulting in 33 local civilians' fatalities and 80 injuries. In addition, junta bombings destroyed 47 residential dwellings and two schools.

In the process, the junta troops fired 8 rockets and 8 howitzers, launched 105 fighter jet airstrikes, carried out 1,893 artillery shellings, and conducted 167 attacks with Y12 aircraft.

In addition, the junta troops in Hsipaw Town carried out 440 ammo bundles through airdrops, using Y12 aircraft for 79 drops, Y8 aircraft for two, and Mi-17 helicopters for five.

In addition, 78 female police officers who had been forced into military duty by the junta forces were detained; however, for humanitarian reasons, they were ultimately freed, along with family members of the military personnel.

In addition, 191 military family members who had been taken prisoner from the 503rd and 504th Light Infantry Regiments in Hsipaw Town were released by the PSLF/TNLA on October 12 in four cars for humanitarian purposes.