Myanmar Military Regains Control of Hsipaw in Major Northern Offensive

On 18 October 2025, Myanmar’s military government announced that it had regained full control of Hsipaw, a key town in northern Shan State, after an intense two-week offensive against the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The operation marks one of the junta’s most significant victories in recent months, as Hsipaw lies on the Mandalay–Muse trade route connecting Myanmar to China. Control over this region is vital for trade, logistics, and military mobility.

According to official military sources, the campaign to recapture Hsipaw began in early October and involved a combination of ground forces, artillery units, and air support. The fighting was fierce and prolonged, with multiple strategic positions changing hands several times. By mid-October, the army declared it had successfully reoccupied the entire town and surrounding administrative areas. Military personnel reportedly cleared mines, repaired communication routes, and began reestablishing local governance under the State Administration Council.

Hsipaw holds significant strategic and symbolic value. The town sits along the vital Mandalay–Muse highway, one of Myanmar’s busiest trade corridors leading to the Chinese province of Yunnan. Losing this area to ethnic armed forces in 2024 disrupted not only military logistics but also trade flows and revenue collection. The junta’s regaining control now allows it to secure trade convoys, assert authority over customs checkpoints, and project military strength in the north once again.

Residents who fled the fighting described heavy artillery shelling and drone attacks during the operation. Local humanitarian networks reported that most of the civilian population had already evacuated to safer nearby villages before the final stages of the offensive. As the military consolidates control, efforts are reportedly underway to clear unexploded ordnance and restore electricity and basic services. The administration has promised that displaced families will be allowed to return once security conditions stabilize.

The TNLA, which had controlled Hsipaw since August 2024, has been one of the strongest ethnic armed groups in northern Myanmar. It forms part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance alongside the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). These groups have waged coordinated offensives against the junta since late 2023, capturing several key towns and military bases. However, the loss of Hsipaw represents a setback for the alliance and demonstrates that the military remains capable of mounting large-scale counteroffensives.

Analysts view this operation as part of a broader effort by the junta to regain territory ahead of the planned 2025 elections. While the military has promised nationwide polls, many areas—especially in northern and western Myanmar—remain outside government control. Reclaiming major towns like Hsipaw helps the military present an image of stability and authority, even though vast rural areas continue to see ongoing clashes.

The humanitarian impact of the operation is considerable. Villages surrounding Hsipaw have reported extensive property damage, including destroyed homes and schools. Local sources say that many civilians remain in makeshift camps, unable to return due to safety concerns and a lack of food and medical aid. Aid organizations continue to face restrictions in accessing conflict-affected areas, limiting relief operations.

Economically, the recapture of Hsipaw could help restore a level of trade activity along the Mandalay–Muse route, which handles a large portion of Myanmar’s imports and exports with China. Traders in Mandalay have cautiously welcomed the development, noting that stability on the route could revive business confidence. However, they remain uncertain about long-term peace in the region.

Despite the military’s victory, armed clashes reportedly persist in areas surrounding the town. The TNLA is believed to have regrouped in nearby hills, continuing hit-and-run attacks on supply lines. The geography of Shan State, with its mountainous terrain and forest cover, favors guerrilla tactics, making it difficult for the military to maintain control outside urban centers.

Political analysts argue that the situation in Hsipaw reflects the broader pattern of Myanmar’s ongoing conflict: neither side can claim complete dominance, and gains on the battlefield are often temporary. The junta’s strategy appears focused on reclaiming economically strategic locations rather than fully pacifying ethnic regions. This approach allows it to maintain trade routes and political leverage while avoiding overextension in hard-to-defend rural territories.

For local residents, however, the conflict has deepened insecurity and poverty. Many towns in northern Shan State have faced multiple cycles of occupation and displacement over the past two years. The constant fighting has disrupted agriculture, education, and healthcare. Hsipaw’s recapture might bring short-term calm, but rebuilding trust between the population and the authorities remains a long road ahead.

As of mid-October 2025, the military has deployed additional troops in the area to prevent further incursions. Officials have announced reconstruction plans, including road repairs and reopening schools by the end of the year. Yet, many observers remain skeptical about whether the government can sustain control without addressing the underlying political and ethnic grievances that fuel the rebellion.

In summary, the recapture of Hsipaw represents a major tactical win for Myanmar’s military but highlights the persistent instability defining the nation’s political landscape. The event underscores how the war between the junta and ethnic armed groups continues to shape Myanmar’s territorial, economic, and humanitarian realities. While the town may be back under military control, the broader conflict shows no signs of resolution, leaving the future of northern Shan State uncertain and fragile.