Junta mounts defence of Maungdaw from BGF battalion

By Admin 11 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
11 September 2024, Maungdaw

Junta soldiers and allied Muslim militiamen at Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw’s Myothugyi Ward are reportedly defending against Arakkha Army (AA) attacks to prevent the border town from being seized by the ethnic armed group.

The regime has been responding to the AA effort to seize Maungdaw with aerial support and fighting between the military and AA continued to escalate on Wednesday, according to a local source.

“Fierce fighting broke out after the AA attacked the junta’s BGF Battalion No. 5 with mortar shells at around 6 a.m. on September 11. The regime also responded to the AA attacks with an aerial assault,” the source said.

About 400 junta soldiers, military-trained armed Muslim men, and members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) and Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) have reportedly been stationed at the BGF Battalion No. 5, sources estimate.

“Myanmar’s military has been airlifting new kinds of weapons to the BGF Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw. Junta soldiers and Muslim militiamen hiding in trenches fired at the AA fighters. The fighting continues to intensify day by day,” said a source.

The AA has so far seized control of several towns in northern Arakan State, with the notable exception of Maungdaw.

“The regime won’t easily give up Maungdaw because the border town has a border trade zone,” said a resident of neighbouring Buthidaung. “Also, if the regime can prevent Maungdaw from being occupied, they can fight together with Muslim armed forces and create ethnic conflict. The AA is also fighting hard in the battle for control of Maungdaw.” 

The AA last month drove around 500 junta soldiers, who had taken up positions in downtown Maungdaw, out of the border town and warned the regime forces at BGF Battalion No. 5 to surrender.

The regime is increasingly relying on aerial attacks to defend against Maungdaw being seized by the AA.