Battle of Lashio

The Battle of Lashio is an ongoing offensive conducted by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, along with other resistance forces, to capture the northern Shan city of Lashio. The headquarters for the Tatmadaw's Northeastern Command, the city was besieged by rebel forces following the collapse of the Chinese-mediated ceasefire that had paused the rebels' Operation 1027.

During the first phase of Operation 1027, resistance forces seized several towns surrounding Laisho, including Hsenwi, Namtu, and Kutkai. They also took control of the road between Laisho and Mandalay, cutting the city off from reinforcement except by air. Following the city's encirclement, junta forces destroyed several bridges leading into the city to try and prevent rebel forces from advancing further. While the city appeared to be a key target for the resistance following the fall of Laukkai, the conflict in Northern Shan was halted by a ceasefire mediated by China.

The ceasefire agreement collapsed in late June 2024, after the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a Brotherhood Alliance member, launched attacks in response to alleged junta violations of the ceasefire. The rebel forces took control of the towns of Kyaukme and Nawnghkio on the road from Lashio to Mandalay, further consolidating the rebels' encirclement. On 2 July, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), another member of the alliance, joined the offensive, attacking junta positions around Lashio with the TNLA. The military responded to the attacks with airstrikes and indiscriminate shelling. As fighting moved closer to the city proper, families of soldiers were evacuated, and thousands of civilians fled the conflict zone.

On July 6, resistance forces began to advance into the city, shelling and using drones to bomb the junta's headquarters inside of the city. At least a dozen civilians have been killed during the battle. On 14 July, the MNDAA announced a four-day halt in its operations to avoid interfering with the ongoing Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. On 17 July anti-junta forces captured army checkpoints outside of Lashio forcing soldiers to withdraw to the city.