Regime counteroffensive intensifies in central Myanmar ahead of 2025-26 election start date

Residents of Myingyan Township in Mandalay Region told DVB that at least eight regime troops were killed by the People’s Defence Force (PDF) during an attack on a military checkpoint at Lelthit village on the Mandalay-Myingyan-Tada-U road on Nov. 4. 

The Mandalay PDF told DVB that they have resorted to guerilla warfare attacks against regime forces in Myingyan, located 69 miles southwest (111 km) of Mandalay.

PDF members in Mandalay’s Madaya Township told DVB that the regime has retaken an undisclosed number of outposts in October after it claimed to have seized 35 regime outposts in Madaya in July 2024.

A regime counteroffensive in Singu Township, seized by the PDF in July 2024, has intensified after it recaptured Thabeikkyin Township on July 23. Madaya, Singu and Thabeikkyin are located 25-90 miles (40-144 km) north of Mandalay.