Amid escalating AA assault, senior Western Command general leaves for Magwe

By Admin 31 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
31 October 2024, Ann

The deputy commander of the Myanmar military's Western Command, based in Arakan State's Ann Town, left the base for Magwe on Monday amid an escalating Arakkha Army (AA) assault.

Brigadier-General Thaung Tun, the Western Command's second in command, and his team flew to the 88th Light Infantry Division in Magwe in a Mi-17 military helicopter on Monday, a source with knowledge of the situation told DMG.

Reports have circulated on social media that the AA shot down the helicopter carrying Thaung Tun; DMG was unable to reach AA spokesman Khaing Thukha to confirm those reports as of press time.

The source, however, said Thaung Tun had made it to the 88th Light Infantry Division in Magwe.

Despite its air and artillery superiority, the regime has been losing ground in Ann, having ceded control of bases previously held by four battalions in recent weeks.

Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 371 and 372, an ordnance depot, a general engineering unit, a battlefield engineering unit and a medical corps are also under attack.

"The ordnance depot and the battlefield engineering unit are on the brink of falling. The AA has been [attacking] those battalions, but has been delayed by the junta's airstrikes," said another source familiar with the matter.

The AA and allied forces have encircled Ann Town, and the regime has increasingly resorted to air attacks to defend against the AA's offensive, according to sources.