AA seizes Thandwe Airport as battle for control of township continues

By Admin 24 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
24 June 2024, Thandwe

The Arakkha Army (AA) seized the Thandwe Airport in southern Arakan State on June 22, after the regime carefully prepared a defence around the town, according to local people.

The airport is located about 7 miles from Thandwe Town and the AA arrested dozens of junta soldiers stationed at the airport.

“The AA took control of the Mazin [Thandwe] Airport yesterday evening and confiscated a haul of weapons and military equipment along with dozens of junta soldiers. Some junta soldiers retreated from the airport to the military’s Light Infantry Battalion 566,” said a resident of Thandwe who declined to be named for security reasons.

DMG phoned junta spokesman Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun regarding the matter, but he could not be reached for comment.

Junta lobbyists’ Telegram channels were reporting Monday morning that fighting is still ongoing near Thandwe Airport, and that the airport has not yet been captured by the AA.

Fighting has been raging in Thandwe Township for more than two months, since the AA launched an assault on junta positions in the township on April 13.

The AA has been launching an offensive against the military’s Thandwe-based Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 566 and 55 since June 20, with the regime responding to the AA attacks with aerial and naval support, according to local residents.

Thousands of residents in Thandwe were forced to flee their homes by fierce clashes and few people remain in the town, said another Thandwe resident.

“Almost all residents in Thandwe including the junta employees have fled to safer locations since the fighting near the town. A few people only remain in Thandwe. Some people have financial difficulties fleeing to safer locations,” the resident explained.

Most residents in Thandwe fled to Gwa Township, but with the cost of transportation charges to get there at 70,000 kyats per person, some people are struggling to pay their way. 

The number of people displaced by junta artillery attacks and airstrikes on residential areas has risen to nearly 50,000 in Thandwe Township, according to local people.