AA close to capturing Western Command, ethnic armed group says

By Admin 19 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
19 December 2024, Ann

The Arakkha Army (AA) said in a statement on December 19 that its forces are close to capturing the Myanmar military’s Western Command headquarters in Arakan State’s Ann, where hundreds of junta soldiers are fiercely defending against the ethnic armed group’s offensive.

Junta troops on the Arakan mountain range provided artillery support to the scene of fighting, killing or wounding several junta soldiers in Myanmar military's Western Command headquarters in Ann, the statement said.

The regime is continuously counter-attacking with airstrikes, while video footage released by the AA showed many junta soldiers surrendering due to the ethnic armed group’s assault.

The AA warned on Monday: “If you surrender early, you can be relieved and meet your families and relatives early, but if not, it won't be a happy New Year for you.”

After fully seizing control of Maungdaw and Taungup townships, the AA is launching a massive offensive to completely capture Ann and Gwa townships.

The regime is doing its utmost to ensure that the Western Command does not fall to the AA, which is both militarily and symbolically important.

“At this point, it is best for the junta soldiers to surrender. Otherwise, the AA will not give up, and they will be at risk. No matter how much the regime resists the Western Command [offensive], it will fall to the AA,” said a source familiar with the situation on the ground.

The AA began the battle for control of Ann in late September and has seized over 30 military camps including the Mae Taung aka Mt. Mel tactical command base guarding the Western Command headquarters in Ann on December 6.

It appears increasingly likely that the Western Command will become the second regional command to be captured by ethnic armed organisations in Myanmar, after the Northeastern Command in Shan State fell earlier this year.