Recapturing Mawtaung Town: Tatmadaw columns recaptured Mawtaung Town

Mawtaung Town is located in Myeik District, Taninthayi Region, and is the easternmost town in lower Myanmar. Mawtaung Town is a border town that abuts Thailand and hosts a Myanmar border trade post.

When exporting Myanmar's marine products and local goods to Thailand, the Myeik-Mawtaung route to Thailand is the shortest route, taking approximately only 7 hours, making Mawtaung Town a commercially significant border town. CRPH and NUG terrorist groups, along with KNU, KNLA groups, and So-Called PDF terrorist insurgents, using political incentives such as democracy and regional development, incited and recruited the honest local residents of Mawtaung Town—a border town important to the nation.

These insurgents provided terrorist training, turning locals into terrorists. They then launched surprise attacks in strength against security personnel stationed in Mawtaung Town. As military columns faced an enemy that had been bolstered enormously, increasing casualties among their own officers and other ranks, and to minimize damage and destruction to the local populace's houses and homes, they conducted phased defensive retreats using tactical military strategies. Consequently, Mawtaung Town fell under the temporary control of joint terrorist insurgent groups on November 14, 2025. Therefore, Tatmadaw columns undertook necessary preparations to recapture and control Mawtaung Town and to reopen the Taninthayi-Yephyu-Thinekhun-Thephyu-Mawtaung route.

Dividing into columns and advancing step by step, they launched a counteroffensive starting from May 5, 2026. They captured the enemy's temporary camp at Hill Point 271 on May 9; two enemy temporary defensive positions near Phaung Seik Village on May 12; Phaung Seik Village on May 13; Hnu Pwar Village on May 15; Village No. (5) on May 16; Village No. (3) on May 17; Village No. (1), on May 18 and finally, at 4:00 p.m. on May 19, Tatmadaw columns fully recaptured and brought Mawtaung Town under their control.

As the terrorist insurgents retreated, they recklessly mined and blew up the bridge at Village No. (9) and the bridge at Village No. (8). With the Tatmadaw's successful seizure of Mawtaung Town, local residents can now return and resettle in their hometowns. As regional stability and tranquility will improve, and the flow of goods, transportation, healthcare, and education will progress via the Taninthayi-Mawtaung route, the local populace joyfully welcomed the Tatmadaw with victory flowers and garlands, expressing their heartfelt delight and support, it’s learnt.