Myanmar’s junta claimed on Thursday (July 24, 2025) claimed to have recaptured the gold mining city of Thabeikkyin after a year-long battle, marking its second key city regained in per week.
With management of Thabeikkyin and Nawnghkio, junta forces maintain two flanks of the city of Mogok — the famend centre of Myanmar’s ruby mining trade.
A civil struggle has consumed Myanmar since a 2021 coup deposed the civilian authorities, with the navy battling a myriad of pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic armed organisations.
This 12 months, the junta’s China- and Russia-backed forces have clawed again floor on the northern entrance, and state media stated its troopers managed “to fully retake” the city of Thabeikkyin on Wednesday.
One resident, Ye Dinn, stated individuals had fled preventing to shelter within the forest or close by faculties and monasteries.
“People have nothing to eat and no place to flee to,” the 65-year-old stated.
Thabeikkyin, situated about 100 kilometres north of the second most populous metropolis of Mandalay, is a profitable hive of gold mining sitting on the banks of the Irrawaddy River bisecting Myanmar.
State mouthpiece the Global New Light of Myanmar stated an anti-coup alliance attacked Thabeikkyin with “overwhelming strength” final August, however its counteroffensive retook the city after 17 main battles.
“We are really scared,” stated one other resident, talking on situation of anonymity.
“Nowhere is safe. We are all looking for a safe place, but people have no idea where they should go and hide.”
The junta final Thursday stated it had recaptured the northeastern city of Nawnghkio, on one other key freeway in direction of Mandalay metropolis, fending allied rebels again additional into the fringes of the nation.
Earlier this week, guerrillas stated they ambushed a junta flotilla of 5 ships crusing up the Irrawaddy north of Mandalay — one other obvious signal of the navy’s renewed regional offensive.
With management of Thabeikkyin and Nawnghkio, junta forces maintain two flanks of the city of Mogok — the famend centre of Myanmar’s ruby mining trade which insurgent forces claimed final summer season.
Mines excavating treasured metals, gems and uncommon earth parts are coveted by all factions in Myanmar’s civil struggle, permitting them to fill their coffers and fund their offensives.
Some 3.5 million persons are residing displaced amid the struggle, in keeping with the United Nations, whereas greater than half the nation of round 50 million now lives in poverty.
