A rare one-page spread in the newspaper showed soldiers holding rifles aloft in celebration and detailed the battle, admitting initial attacks led to officers and enlisted men “sacrificing their lives”.
But “by combining strategic ground and air military tactics”, the military captured “the whole Nawnghkio area” by Wednesday, it said.
In a statement, the TNLA did not acknowledge the junta’s claim of victory.
But it said “it has been difficult to continue administrative work in the town due to the heavy offensive” and it had “moved civil administration services to safe locations”.
Nawnghkio is only around 80km from Myanmar’s second most populous city, Mandalay.
While the combined rebel offensive has inflicted sweeping losses, analysts say the junta’s control over major population centres is secure as it wields an air force capable of staving them off.
Northeastern Lashio city was also captured in the combined offensive starting in October 2023, but was handed back to the junta this April in a deal brokered by China.
