Arakkha Army says battle for control of Thandwe peaking

By Admin 08 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
8 July 2024, Thandwe

The Arakkha Army (AA) released a statement on July 7 describing the battle for control of Thandwe as reaching its “highest” point to date, and characterising the contest as among the most difficult fights it has faced in its bid for control of Arakan State.

The theatre of conflict between the Myanmar military and AA in southern Arakan State began near Kwaychaung and Yaysin villages on April 13.

Clashes between the AA and military were reported in May and June on a daily basis and the fighting was at its heaviest during the first week of July, the AA said.

The military’s Thandwe-based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) Nos. 55 and 566, and LIBs 235, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258 and 259 under the military’s No. 101 Light Infantry Division based in Pakokku, Magwe Region, have defended against the AA attacks during the battle of control of Thandwe.

During the fighting, the regime responded to the AA offensive with aerial and naval support in addition to troops from LIBs 315 and 366, some regiments from Ayeyarwady Region, local militiamen and members of the Myanmar Navy Seals, the AA said in the statement.

Myanmar Navy vessels in the Bay of Bengal and naval bases supported artillery attacks, airstrikes and drone assaults during the battle for control of Thandwe, the statement added.

“Due to the strategic offensive by AA, the military situation of the battle for control of Thandwe reached the strongest and highest position, and it was also a difficult battle among the battles for control of towns in Arakan State,” the AA statement said.

The regime is fiercely resisting with army, navy and air support to prevent Thandwe, the largest district town in southern Arakan State, from falling into the hands of the AA, said a military source in Thandwe.

“If Thandwe falls into the hands of the AA, there is a sense that the AA will be able to fully control southern Arakan State. The AA would have an advantage in supply routes to attack the other remaining towns [held by the regime] in Arakan State,” the military source explained.

The AA seized the military’s Thandwe-based LIB 566 on June 27 and took control of Thandwe Airport on July 5. The AA has also seized some military camps near Thandwe, the ethnic armed group said on July 7.

The AA said it seized at least 400 bodies of junta soldiers and a haul of weapons during the Thandwe fighting, and buried the bodies properly.

The AA is currently attacking the military’s Thandwe-based LIB 55 and fleeing junta soldiers are being hunted down by AA fighters.

Fighting between the military and AA is fierce as the military’s LIB 55, Pakokku-based LIB 252 and other regiments are responding to the AA’s onslaught with aerial and artillery support.

“Clashes between junta soldiers and AA fighters are still intensifying in Ngapali. Junta troops stationed at Thandwe Prison fired mortar shells into Ngapali yesterday evening,” said a Thandwe resident.

Most local people in Thandwe were forced to flee their homes by the ongoing fighting, but approximately 1,000 people are still trapped in downtown Thandwe.

Civilian casualties have surpassed 130 due to the regime’s airstrikes and artillery attacks in Thandwe Township.