The chronicles of the fall of the North-Eastern Command

Northeastern Regional Military Command (RMC)

• Based in Lashio, northern Shan State, it is mainly responsible for defence, security and military operations in northern Shan and adjoining areas. Its commander is Major General Soe Hlaing. Amid the intense fighting, Major General Soe Hlaing was removed on July 18 and replaced by Major General Soe Tint from the 99th Light Infantry Division.  Under the regional command are one Military Operations Command (MOC), three Tactical Operations Commands (static) and two Tactical Operations Commands (mobile), with up to 16 infantry and light infantry battalions under them. Up to nine infantry and light infantry battalions are under the Laukkai MOC.
• The Northeastern Command was split off on July 27, 1972, from the Eastern Command, formed in Taunggyi in 1961, and based in Lashio to deal more effectively with the activities of the Communist Party of Burma inside the country. Since the Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO) attacked and captured the Northern Command based in Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) in 1949, the "Northeastern Command" has gone down in history as the first regional military command headquarters lost by the terrorist junta in 75 years.

Timeline

July 3 - The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang army, MNDAA) and allied joint forces began their assault on Lashio, northern Shan State, on July 3, 2024.

July 5 – They attacked and captured the terrorist junta's Infantry Battalion (IB) 291, about 10 miles southeast of Lashio.

July 7 – They attacked and captured Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 507, near Ward 5 of Lashio town. From that night until the morning of July 8, the terrorist junta repeatedly bombed Ward 5 from the air.

July 18 – Major General Soe Tint, commander of the 99th Light Infantry Division, was appointed commander of the Northeastern Command in place of Major General Soe Hlaing.

July 21 – 317 terrorist junta soldiers fighting in Lashio, including one lieutenant colonel, two majors and five captains, surrendered to the Kokang army. After surrendering, they said they wanted to join the allied forces' attacks.

July 23 – Revolutionary forces attacked positions including the Northeastern Command headquarters in Lashio and the nearby Supply and Transport Battalion 626 and the 100-bed military hospital.

July 24 – The People's Defence Force – Mandalay (MDY-PDF), fighting alongside the Kokang army in the second wave of Operation 1027, captured Mogoke, the ruby land on the border of Mandalay Region and Shan State. Of the battalions surrounding the Northeastern Command in Lashio, IB 41 and 68 and LIB 507 and 522, MNDAA-led revolutionary forces captured IB 41 and LIB 507. That night they also besieged and attacked the Northeastern Command headquarters and IB 68 and LIB 522 near Lashio airport.

July 25 – The Kokang army (MNDAA) announced that it had captured the Northeastern Command in Lashio. On the same day, fighting continued in Wards 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 of Lashio, with air strikes by the terrorist junta. That day, the MNDAA Military Committee also announced that it had taken over the administrative machinery of Lashio and that the town was fully liberated, with town administration taken over by the Myanmar Special Region 1 Administrative Committee, town security by the Special Region 1 police, and town defence by the MNDAA. The Northern Shan State Alliance Army (NSSAA) also announced the same day that it would take part in northern Shan operations alongside the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

July 26 – That evening, MNDAA artillery battalions jointly attacked and captured the remaining terrorist junta troops at the Ho Peik toll gate in Lashio.

July 27 – That morning, the MNDAA captured the broadcasting hill outpost on Hsin Taung peak in Lashio, held by the terrorist junta. In the afternoon, it went on to capture the AD toll gate outpost and Field Engineer Battalion 912 in Lashio. On the same day, the MNDAA announced that the administrative machinery of the Special Region 1 government was operating in Lashio.

July 28 – Lashio railway station was captured. On the same day, the three Northern Alliance brothers issued a statement about fake news written in Chinese circulating on social media claiming "secession from the Union", saying it was intended to pressure ethnic armed organizations, create misunderstanding among neighbouring countries, and give breathing room to the coup-making armed group led by Min Aung Hlaing.

July 29 – The MNDAA announced that security personnel from the Special Region 1 police station had begun duty for public security in Lashio.

July 30 – The MNDAA and the Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA) ambushed a terrorist junta column advancing as reinforcements from Tangyan before it reached Nam Paung village, killing dozens on the junta's side. That day, they also pushed into the regional command's guesthouse, separated from Lashio airport only by a compound fence. On the same day, the MNDAA Military Committee issued a statement on the protection of foreign investments and staff.

July 31 – In Kunming, China, the Haigeng meeting on northern Shan operations, mediated by China, was attended by representatives of the three brotherhood allies, the MNDAA, the Arakan Army (AA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), but the terrorist junta did not attend. That day, the terrorist junta announced a further six-month extension of the state of emergency from August 1.

August 1 – The MNDAA and allies launched an intense offensive on the terrorist junta's Northeastern Command (NEC) in Lashio. Hundreds of wounded terrorist junta soldiers and medical staff abandoned at the 100-bed military hospital within the command area surrendered to the MNDAA. Although the MNDAA entered the hospital, fighting continued with the remaining junta troops. That night at around 11:30 p.m., the junta bombed Laukkai, seat of the Myanmar Special Region 1 Administrative Committee; bombs struck Special Region 1 People's Hospital No. 2 and civilian homes, killing a hospital security worker instantly, seriously injuring two inpatients and lightly injuring many others.

August 2 – At around 1:30 a.m., the terrorist junta dropped up to 17 bombs on Shi Yon Kyi village, Tai Phin village tract, Tonghsan town, Kokang District, destroying many civilian homes. The Special Region 1 Administrative Committee stated that its organization will never conduct operations targeting homes, hospitals and schools; that it is the military council that is attacking and destroying homes, hospitals, religious buildings and schools in Lashio; and that, since such targeted attacks are war crimes and grave human rights violations, it calls on the international community to take strong action.

August 3 – The MNDAA announced that on the afternoon of August 3 it had fully captured the terrorist junta's Northeastern Command. On the same day, some religious, media and writers', sports, film, music, performing arts and comedians' associations and civil society organizations operating inside the country under the terrorist junta jointly issued statements objecting to and condemning the MNDAA's attack on the military hospital and the damage caused by its use of rockets, heavy weapons and drones in Lashio, calling them war crimes and unacceptable.

August 4 – The Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Chin National Front (CNF) jointly stated that they were delighted and proud that the Kokang army (MNDAA) and allied joint forces had captured the Northeastern Command (NEC). The Karenni Joint Forces Chief of Staff Committee also sent a message of congratulations. That night, terrorist junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told media that contact with the NEC headquarters had been lost since the night of August 3 and that some officers had been captured.

August 5/7 – The Chin Brotherhood, the Pa-O National Federal Council (PNFC), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) and the New Mon State Party (Anti-Dictatorship) (NMSP-AD) also sent messages of congratulations.

August 8 – Preparations were made for the sixth Haigeng talks, but they were called off because the terrorist junta did not attend. On the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Mr. Deng Xijun came to Naypyitaw and met terrorist junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. The junta said they discussed stability in border areas, crackdowns on online scam gangs and illegal businesses, and preparations for the election.

August 12 – The three brotherhood allies issued a letter of thanks, expressing deep gratitude to the organizations and individuals who sent congratulations for the successes of Operation 1027 and the battles to capture towns, and to all the oppressed people of Myanmar who supported them, and saying they stand as one in blood and flesh to achieve the remaining goals of the operation and the political goals the people want.