Three well-armed militias launched a surprise joint offensive in northeastern Myanmar a year ago, breaking a strategic stalemate with the regime’s military with rapid gains of huge swaths of territory and inspiring others to attack around the country. Before the offensive, the military’s control had seemed firmly ensconced with its vast superiority in troops and firepower, aided by material support from Russia and China. However, today the military finds itself increasingly on the back foot, having lost dozens of outposts, bases, and strategic cities that even its leaders concede will be challenging to regain.
The military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, leading to intensified fighting with long-established armed groups associated with Myanmar’s ethnic minority groups and sparking the formation of new pro-democracy militias. Until the launch of Operation 1027, the military, known as the Tatmadaw, had largely been able to prevent major losses around the country.
