Myanmar military claims recapture of strategic town from rebel force

An image said to show government soldiers celebrating in Nawnghkio, a township that the Ta'ang National Liberation Army controlled for more than a year, in the northern part of Shan state, Myanmar [The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP]

Myanmar’s military government has claimed to have removed rebel fighters and recaptured a town after a yearlong battle near the country’s main army training academy, marking a rare turnaround for the regime in the northeast region of the country.

The country’s ruling military announced on Thursday that it made the advance in Shan State’s town of Nawnghkio, which had been under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).