Thibaw (Hsipaw) Town in northern Shan State—where resistance forces withdrew following Chinese pressure that paved the way for the junta to retake control—has been hit by an improvised rocket attack, raising concerns of renewed military tensions between the two sides.
On May 24, between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., two improvised rockets landed and detonated near the town, causing panic among local residents.
“Two rockets landed and exploded, though it is not yet known which group was responsible. There were reports that one may have struck the town while the other hit a battalion compound, but this has not been confirmed. The explosions were heard clearly across a wide area. Locals have been living in constant anxiety since the junta regained control of Thibaw,” a Thibaw resident said.
A Thibaw Township MP who ran in the junta-organized election wrote on social media that the town was struck by improvised rockets that exploded outside the town, adding that there were no injuries and expressing hope that everyone remained safe.
During ‘Operation 1027,’ a major offensive against the junta launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a member of the alliance, captured Thibaw. However, under reported pressure from the Chinese government, control of the town was handed back to the junta in October 2025.
However, the junta only controls the town center and downtown wards and has not yet fully restored its administrative machinery.
“The junta only regained Thibaw through reported Chinese intervention, but outside the town it remains effectively surrounded by resistance forces. The Thibaw–Lashio Road beyond the Dokhtawaddy River Bridge is still controlled by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), while Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) forces are also present in nearby villages. With security concerns mounting, the junta has closed the bridge,” a military analyst from northern Shan State said.
Lashio, which the MNDAA previously controlled before later handing it back to the junta, was also hit by at least four improvised rocket attacks in April. On April 22, the junta’s Infantry Battalion 41 (IB 41) compound in Lashio Township was also targeted with rockets.
Junta bases and positions in northern Shan State are also encircled by resistance forces and remain vulnerable to possible attacks or takeover at any time, leaving the junta in a difficult dilemma in the area.
