YANGON: Myanmar’s junta and an ethnic minority armed group both claimed on Thursday (Jul 25) they were in control of a town and regional military command in northern Shan state following days of clashes.
Fighting has rocked the town of Lashio, home to the military’s northeastern command, since Jul 3, when an alliance of ethnic armed groups renewed an offensive against junta troops.
Local media run by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) reported the group “fully captured the headquarters of the Northeast Military command in Lashio” on Thursday morning and also captured Lashio town, home to some 150,000 people
But junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told reporters the claim was “not true”.
“The insurgents infiltrated the outskirts of Lashio so (the security forces) have been following and clearing them,” he said, without giving details.
AFP was unable to reach a MNDAA spokesman for comment.
The northeastern command is located in the north of Lashio.
A video uploaded to social media claiming to have been shot in Lashio on Thursday morning showed deserted streets with no soldiers in sight.
AFP reporters have geolocated the video to a site in the town around 2km from the command.
