Dry Zone theater

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Townships within the Dry Zone
Regions with territory included within the Dry Zone
Townships and regions located wholly outside the Dry Zone Myanmar Dry Zone Townships.svg
  Townships within the Dry Zone
  Regions with territory included within the Dry Zone
  Townships and regions located wholly outside the Dry Zone

The Dry Zone theater, [1] also known as the Anyar theater, is one of the theaters of the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), taking place in Myanmar's Dry Zone (or Anyar) region which encompasses the Bamar-majority Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay regions. [2] [3] It has been described as the "prime center" of resistance against the junta. [2]

Contents

Background

The Dry Zone has been the historic heartland of Myanmar and rarely saw armed violence in the modern conflict in Myanmar since 1948 as a predominantly Buddhist and Bamar farming region. This led to the Tatmadaw (the military of Myanmar) to not maintain a heavy presence there.

The fighting in the Dry Zone theater starting in 2021 changed this trajectory. Without the presence of EAOs, the Bamar PDF groups are characterized as local cells acting autonomously towards simple and directed action against the military towards the 2021 coup. In the 2021-2022 dry season, the PDFs began to work more closely together and coordinate towards larger goals. [4]

Timeline

2021

After the coup, the Dry Zone saw a "precipitous uptick in violence". [4]

Small river boats on the Chindwin River near Monywa, 2006 Monywa-chindwin-d02.jpg
Small river boats on the Chindwin River near Monywa, 2006

In late November 2021, junta forces ambushed and destroyed a base belonging to Monywa PDF's Squadron 205 near Palin village, Sagaing Region, forcing resistance fighters to flee. The base was the site of a workshop where the PDF had made explosive devices, which were destroyed during the raid. [5] On 9 December 2021, the Myaing PDF in Magway Region ambushed two military vehicles with 3 handmade explosives, claiming to have injured at least 3 soldiers. [6] Salingyi G-Z PDF fighters detonated explosives in another attack on a convoy in Salingyi, triggering an assault on the town by about 100 junta soldiers. The soldiers captured and burnt 10 fighters and one civilian. [7]

In December 2021, the military sent around 150 Airborne Division soldiers in helicopters to the west of Depayin to carry out air assault missions. They surrounded Depayin Township where PDF fighters were positioned. [8] On 13 December, Tatmadaw troops launched an offensive to retake Ke Bar, Ayadaw Township with the assistance of artillery and forced resistance fighters to retreat. [9] On 17 December, the Tatmadaw and a military-backed Pyusawhti militia launched a surprise air assault on Hnan Khar, Gangaw Township in Magway Region killing 20 resistance fighters from the Yaw Defence Force. [10] In late 2021, Myaung PDF resistance forces "seized two boats, an oil vessel and a cargo ship" on the Chindwin River on the grounds that "those on board were unable to demonstrate that the vessels did not belong to the junta". [11]

2022

As targeted personnel attacks increased, around 50 Myanmar junta personnel and Pyusawhti militia members were reportedly killed during raids and ambushes by PDF across three townships in Sagaing Region on 9 February 2022. [12] The PDF ambushed flotillas transporting supplies and soldiers, setting at least one flotilla on fire. [13] On 7 February, junta soldiers were killed by local PDF surprise attacks using drones in the Sagaing Region. [14] The PDF also suffered losses, with 12 fighters killed in a battle in Khin-U Township. [15]

Many cities saw violent clashes during Union Day. PDF forces launched an attack in Naypyitaw, the capital city, during the military's celebrations, killing at least 4 junta soldiers. [16] Mandalay also saw civilian guerrilla groups and PDFs in Maha Aung Myay and Pyigyidagun Townships shooting at junta forces and throwing homemade bombs. Tatmadaw troops killed eight guerrilla fighters while raiding two resistance hideouts in retaliation. [17]

2023

In October 2023, anti-junta forces launched Operation Taungthaman in the Mandalay Region. [18]

On 6 November 2023, Kawlin, Sagaing Region fell to the coalition during Operation 1027, marking the first district-level capital seized during the operation. [19]

2024

The Local PDFs in the Dry Zone are now more interconnected with the NUG. However, they still predominately use hit-and-run tactics. [20]

Tatmadaw forces recaptured the district capital of Kawlin on 10 February after almost 10 days of fighting. [21] After this, junta forces razed the settlement, destroying the majority of homes in Kawlin and surrounding villages. [22] On 22 February, junta forces launched an offensive to recapture the town of Maw Luu from the KIA and ABSDF. [23] The joint rebel forces had taken the key town in December 2023, blocking the Shwebo-Myitkyina road, during Operation 1027. [24] On 14 March, junta forces took the village of Kampani, Kalay Township in an campaign to resist anti-junta attacks on Kalay. [25] Despite the campaign, on 16 March resistance forces captured the Pyusawhti-controlled village of Kyaung Taik north of Kalay. [26]

While the junta launched its counteroffensives, allied resistance launched an offensive to capture Kani, capturing around 80% of the town by 7 March. [27] After almost 10 days of fighting, by 15 March, rebels were forced to give up their efforts to capture the town after overwhelming junta resistance. [28]

On 4 April 2024 the People's Defense Force launched an unprecedented drone attack against Aye Lar airbase, the main Tatmadaw headquarters, and Min Aung Hlaing's residence in the capital, Naypyidaw. Almost 30 drones were deployed; junta forces claimed 7 were shot down. [29] [30] Myawaddy TV said 13 fixed-wing drones were shot down and there were no casualties or damage to property. NUG claimed the attack was "a success". [31] On 12 April, local People's Defense Forces claimed that they killed over a dozen junta soldiers in another attack on Aye Lar Airbase. [32]

On 19 April junta forces launched a counteroffensive to retake Shwe Pyi Aye, Homalin Township, after it was captured in November 2023. [33]

On 11 June the Union Liberation Front and Sagaing Region People's Defence Organisation captured a junta base near the Sagaing capital Monywa. [34] On 27 June, a coalition of several PDFs launched an offensive on Budalin. [35]

On 17 July, People's Defense Forces launched 2 rockets at Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, causing no casualties. [36]

On 10 August, Myingyan District PDF launched an offensive against Taungtha and Natogyi. [37] Natogyi was briefly captured before being recaptured by the junta soon after. On 15 August, PDF launched an offensive on Tabayin, capturing the town by 18 August. Shortly after, due to a junta counteroffensive, PDF withdrew from the town. [38] In mid-August, the KIA and PDF launched joint offensives on Indaw, Pinlebu, and Htigyaing. [39] Resistance entirely capturing Pinlebu on 8 October, defeating almost 800 junta soldiers. [40]

On 27 October, the anniversary of Operation 1027, Maung Saungkha announced that the Bamar People's Liberation Army would begin operations in the Anyar region of Myanmar. [41]

On 11 November, the Burma National Revolution Army and several other PDF's launched attacks on Pale. After capturing several areas of the town, they were forced to retreat due to a junta counteroffensive. [42]

Humanitarian impact

According to the research group Data for Myanmar, more than 57,183 civilian homes in Anyar have been burned down by junta forces, making up 94% of the total number of civilian homes burned down across the country. [43]

Since 2021, as a result of the state-sponsored violence following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, increasing temperatures, the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasingly-poor harvests, a widespread exodus of Dry Zone residents to other areas of Myanmar has occurred. [44]

Analysis

Some analysts have "refer[red] to the Anyar theater as part of a broad corridor connecting major insurgents in the northern Kachin State and the western Rakhine State on the Bay of Bengal seaboard, even comparing it with the Ho Chi Minh trail." [45]

See also

Related Research Articles

Kawlin (ကောလင်းမြို့) is a town in the Sagaing Division in Myanmar. Since December 2018 it has been the administration headquarters for Kawlin District as well as Kawlin Township. As of 2019, the town had a population of 25,254, up from 21,431 in 2014. The town is further subdivided into 8 wards.

Laukkai is the capital of Kokang Self-Administered Zone in the northern part of Shan State, Myanmar. It is located east of the Salween River, which forms part of Myanmar's border with the People's Republic of China at its upper reaches. It is about 10 miles (16 km) away from Nansan, China. In Laukkai, Southwestern Mandarin and Chinese characters are widely used, and the Chinese renminbi is in circulation. It is the main town of Laukkaing Township of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. It is 117 miles (188 km) from Lashio and 42 miles (68 km) from Kongyan. Its population is 23,435. Laukkai is notorious for its gambling, prostitution, human trafficking and online scams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arakan Army</span> Insurgent group active in Rakhine State, Myanmar

The Arakan Army, sometimes referred to as the Arakha Army, is an ethno-nationalist armed organisation based in Rakhine State (Arakan). Founded in April 2009, the AA is the military wing of the United League of Arakan (ULA). The Arakan Army are followers of Theravada Buddhism. It is currently led by Commander-in-Chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing and vice deputy commander-in-chief Brigadier General Nyo Twan Awng. The Arakan Army states that the objective of its armed revolution is to restore the sovereignty of the Arakan people. It was declared a terrorist organization in 2020 by Myanmar, and again by the State Administration Council junta in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army</span> Ethnic insurgent group in northern Myanmar

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is an armed resistance group in the Kokang region of Myanmar (Burma). The army has existed since 1989, having been the first one to sign a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government. The ceasefire lasted for about two decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Defence Force (Myanmar)</span> Armed wing of the National Unity Government of Myanmar

The People's Defence Force is the armed wing of the National Unity Government in Myanmar. The armed wing was formed by the NUG from youths and pro-democracy activists on 5 May 2021 in response to the coup d'état that occurred on 1 February 2021 that put the military junta and their armed wing the Tatmadaw in power. The military junta designated it as a terrorist organisation on 8 May 2021. In October 2021, NUG's Ministry of Defence announced that it had formed a central committee to coordinate military operations across the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myanmar civil war (2021–present)</span> Ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar since the 2021 coup detat

The Myanmar Civil War, also known as the Burmese Civil War, Burmese Spring Revolution, or People's Defensive War, is an ongoing civil war since 2021. It began following Myanmar's long-running insurgencies, which escalated significantly in response to the 2021 military coup d'état and the subsequent violent crackdown on anti-coup protests. The exiled National Unity Government and major ethnic armed organisations repudiated the 2008 Constitution and called instead for a democratic federal state. Besides engaging this alliance, the ruling government of the State Administration Council, or SAC, also contends with other anti-SAC forces in areas under its control. Hannah Beech of The New York Times observed the insurgents are apportioned into hundreds of armed groups scattered across the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinland Defense Force</span> Insurgent group fighting against the junta in Myanmar

The Chinland Defense Force is a rebel group in Myanmar. It was formed in response to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état to protect Chin State from the military junta. The CDF claims that they do not attack the military without cause and that they always issue a warning, such as releasing detainees and refraining from using violence against civilians. If the military does not respond, guerrilla or other action follows. They promise to return their weapons and disband if the revolution is successful. CDFs are members of CJDC. Chinland Joint Defense Committee (CJDC) is formed to serve Chin people's security services and protect an enemy from the illegal Myanmar Army. The total strength of active personnel under the command of CJDC is approximated to be around 15,000. From August to October 2021, it was reported that at least 40 clashes occurred between junta troops and CDF in various townships. CJDC claimed that at least 1,029 Tatmadaw soldiers were killed in the clashes and lost 58 of their own in 2021.

The following is a timeline of major events during the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), following the 2021 military coup d'état and protests. It was also a renewed intensity in existing internal conflict in Myanmar.

This is the list of important events happened in Myanmar in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chin theater</span> Armed conflict in northwestern Myanmar

The Chin Theater is one of the theaters of the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), with resistance forces fighting against the Tatmadaw military junta in Chin State, western Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation 1027</span> 2023–present anti-junta military operation in Myanmar

Operation 1027 is an ongoing military offensive conducted by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, a military coalition composed of three ethnic armed organisations in Myanmar: the Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), allied with other rebel forces in the country, against the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's ruling military junta.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance ;, also known as Brotherhood Alliance, is an alliance between the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army formed in June 2019.

Operation 1107 is an ongoing joint military operation launched on 7 November 2023, by the Karenni National People's Liberation Front, Karenni Army, and Karenni Nationalities Defence Force against the Tatmadaw military junta in Myanmar, during the Myanmar civil war. It was launched in support of the concurrent Operation 1027 by other rebel forces in Myanmar.

Operation 1111 is an ongoing military operation in Myanmar launched by Karenni Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) including the Karenni Army (KA), Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) and Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF). The operation was launched concurrently with Operation 1107, with the goal to capture Kayah State's capital city of Loikaw.

This is the list of important events happened in Myanmar in 2024.

The military of Myanmar (Tatmadaw) and its allies have committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 2021–present Myanmar civil war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rakhine offensive (2023–present)</span> Military operation in Myanmar

On 13 November 2023, the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic resistance group active in the civil war in Myanmar, launched a military offensive against Myanmar's military junta in Rakhine and southern Chin State. Fighting began concurrently with the launch of Operation 1027, which the Arakan Army, as a member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, also participated in. The offensive broke an informal ceasefire between the Arakan Army and the junta that had been in place for a year. During the offensive, the Arakan Army captured several towns in northern Rakhine, including Mrauk U, the capital of Mrauk-U District and the historical capital of Arakan. These gains gave them total control over most of northern Arakan. The Arakan Army followed these successes by besieging Sittwe, the state capital, and Ann, the headquarters of the junta's western command. They also launched offensives in the southern parts of the state, capturing several towns and throwing junta forces into disarray. The International Institute for Strategic Studies reported that the Arakan Army's sweeping gains "are already enough to enable self-rule over a large portion of the Rakhine homeland and to reshape the wider balance of power in Myanmar."

The Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) offensive in Kachin State, known unofficially as Operation 0307, is an ongoing military operation against the Tatmadaw military junta of Myanmar which began on 7 March 2024. Primarily centred along the road connecting Myitkyina to Bhamo, Operation 0307 was launched to capture junta bases which could threaten Laiza, the headquarters of the KIA. Operation 0307 was launched alongside concurrent KIA offensives against Hpakant and northern Shan State, and concurrent resistance offensives throughout Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Myawaddy</span> 2024 military engagement in Myanmar

The siege of Myawaddy was a significant military engagement that occurred in early 2024 during the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. The siege took place in the town of Myawaddy, located on the eastern border with Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Lashio</span> 2024 capture of Lashio by Myanmar rebels

The Battle of Lashio was an 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.

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Bibliography