Myanmar is currently in turmoil, with armed uprisings everywhere, posing a serious threat to the Tatmadaw army. Unlike in the past, these forces began to work together, employing multiple attacks and focusing on the weaknesses of the Tatmadaw to make it difficult for the Tatmadaw to cope. According to incomplete statistics, more than 20 local armed forces across the country participated in the uprising, a situation of such scale and coordinated operations that is extremely rare in history. The dilemma faced by the Tatmadaw is not only the increase in the number of hostile forces, but also the flexible tactics adopted by these forces and their coordination with each other, making it difficult for the Tatmadaw to respond effectively. The Kokang Allied Army, the Karen National Union, the Kochin Army and the Aung San Suu Kyi Defence Army all joined the fighting, causing the situation to spiral out of control. Local forces have avoided confrontation with the Tatmadaw and have resorted to guerrilla tactics, using tactics of sneak attacks and encroachment. Although the total strength of these local armed forces is less than 20,000, and most of them are equipped with ordinary rifles and a small number of heavy **, they have united against the Tatmadaw army, forming a situation of "ants eating bison".
For the Tatmadaw the Tatmadaw is not only facing a large number of armed forces, but also a new mode of warfare and tactical challenges. The commander-in-chief of the Burmese army, Min Aung Choi, also admitted that the situation this time is indeed extremely difficult and completely different from the situation of previous wars. This protracted and difficult struggle has brought a severe test to Myanmar. The conflict in Myanmar has always been in the spotlight. Despite the strength of the Burmese army, the Kokang local armed forces are like ants, constantly attacking it, and continuing to erode the strength of the Burmese army. Although the Burmese army still has the upper hand overall, it is helpless to effectively exert its strength. By adopting guerrilla tactics of coordinated operations, cooperating with each other, and maintaining communication at all times, the Kokang local armed forces have always been able to identify the weaknesses of the Burmese army and carry out surprise attacks, which will continue to deplete the strength of the Burmese army and severely damage its morale and psychological defenses. The drone raid tactics of the Kokang local forces have also been effective, inflicting heavy losses on the Burmese army in the mountainous and forested areas.
In the face of the dire situation, the Myanmar army has also taken action by mobilizing its main mobile forces to the front line to fight local forces, and has carried out large-scale troop movements to replenish the strength of the frontline troops. However, the Kokang local militia has created a new tactic – using improvised drones to carry out surprise attacks. Although these drones are not advanced, they carry grenades, bombs and other ** devices, although they are not very powerful, they can suddenly appear over the Myanmar army and give it an unexpected blow. The Kokang local forces also use drones to conduct reconnaissance and immediately launch sneak attacks when they find weak links in the Burmese army. The Kokang local forces have successfully implemented this tactic on several occasions, resulting in the surrender of at least three battalions as a result of the attack. In addition, the drone raid tactics of the Kokang local forces also led to the destruction of the forward headquarters of the commander of the 99th Division of the Myanmar Army, who was killed. The Burmese army was overwhelmed by such a surprise attack and suffered considerable losses.
According to reports, the Myanmar military has confirmed that a brigade commander surrendered after being attacked by local forces such as the Kokang Allied Army during the fighting. In addition, facilities such as ammunition depots and logistical supply depots of the Myanmar army have been subjected to continuous bombardment. The Burmese army is already facing a shortage of supplies in the face of fighting in areas such as Kokang, and the situation has been exacerbated by successive attacks on these carefully constructed ammunition depots and logistics depots. The 24-hour raids by local forces such as the Kokang Allied Army have also kept the Myanmar army on high alert. The long-term repressive posture has severely exhausted the commanders and soldiers of the Myanmar army, and the psychological pressure is close to collapse. After the abrupt surrender of a deployed battalion, the commander of the 16th Brigade of the Burmese army broke through overnight with more than 200 soldiers. It is reported that the ammunition depot of the brigade has been destroyed by the Kokang Allied Army, which makes ammunition scarce and combat capability limited, so this breakthrough operation is also for survival.
In the face of the "ant gnawing" tactics of local forces such as the Kokang Alliance, the Burmese army is losing personnel every day, but it is unable to eliminate the main force of the local forces, which has not been seen in decades. In just over a month of fighting, the Myanmar army has lost more than 6,000 men, which is very rare in history. Outlying strongholds were lost one after another, and the Burmese army began to retreat to the cities, and the situation became increasingly passive. The Kokang Allied forces have captured more than 100 strongholds in the fighting, and some important strategic points have begun to be surrounded by local forces, leaving the Burmese army in a difficult position. Local militant attacks, which began in outlying strongholds and rural areas where the Burmese army is weak, are now being forced to retreat to cities and face attacks from multiple directions as not seen in decades.
The armed forces in the Kokang region have been using the tactics of dispersing attacks, attacking the Burmese army while other armed forces will assist the Kokang forces in attacking the Burmese army's logistical supply lines, which makes it difficult for the Burmese army to respond and fall into a passive situation. As the Burmese army retreats to the cities, fewer resources are available and the counterattack becomes more difficult. Although the Kokang Allied forces had surrounded Lao Cai, they did not rush to attack, but adopted the strategy of encircling the point and sending reinforcements. They constantly attacked the Burmese army that came to support, inflicting huge losses on the Burmese army and severely damaging their morale. The Kokang Army began to use rocket artillery to attack the Burmese army, which severely affected the morale of the Burmese army, and several divisions were caught in bitter battles, while they faced difficulties in salvaging the situation. Although the Burmese army could use warplanes to bomb the Kokang Allied Forces and use artillery to strike at local forces, they did not expect that the Kokang Allied Forces and other local forces would also start using heavy firepower such as Type 40 rocket artillery.
The Kokang Allied Army began to use rocket artillery to attack the Burmese army, killing and injuring them, putting great psychological pressure on the Burmese army. With the concerted efforts of local forces, the Burmese army suffered successive defeats. Several divisions, including the 55th, 66th, 99th, 22nd, 33rd, and 12th Mobile Divisions, were caught in a bitter battle. The morale of the Burmese army has been severely weakened, and the will to fight has collapsed.