Battle for control of Arakan State intensifies

By Admin 24 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
24 October 2024, Sittwe

It has been nearly a year since the military clashed anew with the Arakkha Army (AA) in Arakan State, and the fighting continues to intensify.

There were nine clashes between the military and AA in Arakan State from September 11-23, and all clashes were reported in Maungdaw Township, BNI-Myanmar Peace Monitor said in a report.

There were 19 clashes between the military and AA in Maungdaw, Ann, Gwa and Kyaukphyu townships in the two weeks from September 24 to October 8, the report added. Among them, there were between eight and 13 clashes in Ann Township, which logged the highest number of clashes over the reporting period.

Hostilities between the military and AA are occuring in Maungdaw, Ann and Gwa townships daily and the AA often clashes with the military in Taungup Township as well, the ethnic armed group said in a statement on October 22.

Fighting broke out in Gwa Township in early August and hostilities have since spread to Thabyuchaung, Kywechaing and Taingkyo villages some 10 miles from Gwa Town, forcing residents to flee.

"The AA's offensive approaches Gwa. Fighting is reported on a daily basis. The regime has deployed junta soldiers from Ayeyarwady Region at the border locations between Gwa and Ngathaingchaung," said a local man in Gwa.

The AA's assault in Ann Township has prompted the military to respond with aerial and artillery support.

The AA is ramping up an attack on the Myanmar military's Border Guard Police Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw, meanwhile, with the regime defending against the ethnic armed group's attack with aerial, naval and artillery support.

The AA has seized 10 towns in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State since the latest fighting broke out in November of last year, and clashes continue to escalate as the ethnic armed group is attempting to capture the remaining towns.

"If the entire Arakan State is to be freed from the military regime, it can be said that only Sittwe and Ann, where the military headquarters are based, remain to be occupied. The places where the AA will conduct military operations are the administrative bases and military headquarters, so the pace of the battle may be intense," said Ko Moe Htet Nay, a political and research advisor for Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, a local research group.