The escalation of fighting in northern Myanmar has aroused widespread concern in the international community. The Tatmadaw launched an all-out counterattack, and previous peace talks were seen as a delaying tactic. Analysts point out that the Tatmadaw may use the delay in peace talks to prepare for a counterattack. In this intricate conflict, Lao Cai became the focus of contention. The Burmese air force and artillery showed great strength, carrying out sustained air strikes and artillery bombardment against the Kokang Allied forces. MiG fighters, transport planes, and armed forces were dispatched one after another to carry out fierce air strikes on many places in the northern part of Chan State. Especially the siege of Lao Cai, the frequency of air raids is alarming. The area around Namkan town was hit by 28 airstrikes in just one day, and the Burmese army displayed strong firepower. Under these circumstances, the Kokang Allied forces were under fire and faced a serious threat. The Burmese army's airborne special operations units are fighting hard, but lack of support is plagued.
The Tatmadaw special operations unit attempted to quickly penetrate the Kokang Allied forces through airborne operations, but met with unexpectedly strong resistance. The battlefield showed that the Airborne Forces faced problems such as insufficient firepower and lack of armored vehicles, which made it difficult for them to effectively confront the fortified positions and mortars of the Kokang Allied forces in real combat. In particular, in the urban street fighting, they were besieged by the Kokang Allied forces, and the ground forces that were supposed to join them were unable to provide effective support. The Burmese Airborne Forces were awkward and helpless in this situation, facing the strong positions of the Kokang Allied Army, and lacking sufficient mobility and support, limiting their military effectiveness. The Burmese army launched a full-scale counterattack, and the city of Lao Cai fell into white-hot street fighting. The special environment of urban street fighting makes both sides face extremely high risks.
The Tatmadaw is deployed in populated areas in an attempt to use Burmese-specific tactics, including the use of the city's topography, to deploy special operations forces in order to gain a chance of victory in the narrow streets. However, this also puts the residents of Lao Cai City in danger. Urban street fighting was a huge challenge for the Kokang Alliance. Despite its high morale, it was underwhelmed in the face of a full-scale counterattack by the Burmese army. In urban street fighting, unlike field combat, civilians and fighters are mixed together, and once a fierce exchange of fire occurs, it is difficult to avoid. The Kokang Allied Forces need to effectively organize counterattacks to fend off the Tatmadaw offensive, while ensuring the safety of civilians. As night falls, the Kokang Allied Forces should make good use of night fighting techniques to weaken the Burmese army's combat effectiveness.
The special circumstances of night fighting may have made the Burmese army more disadvantageous in the city, while the Kokang Allied forces could launch effective attacks through flexible means such as light **. At the same time, night fighting can also provide opportunities for the Kokang Allied Forces to operate covertly, further restricting the activities of the Tatmadaw forces. The Kokang Allied forces focused on capturing the Burmese army headquarters and capturing Mixiangou in the hope of having a crucial impact on the situation in Lao Cai City. The capture of the Tatmadaw headquarters would not only weaken the Tatmadaw military's ability to command and control, but could also affect the Tatmadaw military's strategic deployment in urban street fighting. This tactical move will test the organizational and tactical skills of the Kokang Allied forces, and is also expected to bring a turnaround to the resistance forces in Lao Cai City. Overall, street fighting in the city will be the focus of conflict.
Both sides are facing serious challenges in this special environment, and the outcome of the street fighting in the city will have a profound impact on the development of the situation in Lao Cai. The Kokang Alliance's tactical decisions in night battles and the capture of the Tatmadaw headquarters will determine their success or failure in urban street fighting, as well as open up new possibilities for the entire conflict situation.