Military suffers dozens of casualties in clashes with AA over recent days, ethnic armed group claims

By DMG 02 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
2 November 2022, Maungdaw

Clashes between the military and Arakan Army (AA) were reported across three townships in western Myanmar over the past two days.

A Myanmar military column was attacked with remote-controlled mines at a location less than 1.5 kilometres northeast of Ywapakar Village in Arakan State’s Taungup Township on November 1, according to U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the Arakanese ethnic armed group.

Meanwhile, a clash broke out between Ywapakar and Thetkelpyin villages in Taungup Township after a military truck was attacked with remote-controlled landmines on the Taungup-Thandwe road, said a resident of Taungup town.

“As far as we know, the clash erupted after a military truck was attacked with landmines by the AA. Following the fighting, military troops reportedly entered the village and conducted interrogations of locals,” he added.

In neighbouring Chin State, a skirmish broke out between the military and AA east of Paletwa Township’s Myitwa Village at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The AA also attacked a military truck with remote-controlled mines near Kyaytawpyin Village in northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, at about 9 a.m. the same day, U Khaing Thukha said.

The AA spokesman went on to say the military suffered losses during these battles, but that details on the ground remained sketchy.

DMG attempted to contact Major-General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the military junta, to seek comment on the matter, but he could not be reached.

The military was also reported to have suffered heavy casualties in clashes with the Arakan Army in Arakan State’s Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U townships, as well as Paletwa Township, from October 26 to 31, with the ethnic armed group seizing some weapons from its regime adversary.

At least 24 junta soldiers were killed and 36 others injured in those clashes, the Arakan Army said in a statement on November 1.

DMG could not independently confirm the junta casualties as reported by the AA.