AA says it has seized two-thirds of Gwa Town

By Admin 21 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
21 December 2024, Gwa

The Arakkha Army (AA) announced on December 20 that it had seized two-thirds of the southernmost town of Gwa in Arakan State, where fighting has been intense.

The AA is currently attacking the remaining junta battalion and military camps in Gwa, and clashes with military regiments under the 11th Light Infantry Division are ongoing.

“Fighting between the military and AA is escalating in Gwa. Fighting has flared up between the regime and the Arakkha Army on the road through the Arakan Mountains linking Gwa Township in Arakan State with Ngathaingchaung in Ayeyarwady Region,” said U Khaing Thukha, spokesperson for the AA.

The AA seized control of the military’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 563 in Gwa’s Myoma Ward on Friday morning, and continued to attack the military’s LIB No. 562.

Fighting between the military and AA is escalating near the military’s LIB No. 562 on the Gwa-Ngathainggyaung road and in the Arakan Mountains, with the AA blocking off the road over the Arakan Mountains, said a source on the ground.

“Fighting between the military and AA is escalating on the Gwa-Ngathainggyaung road, with the regime providing aerial support. The AA has already blocked off the Gwa-Ngathainggyaung road and Gwa Town will soon fall to the hands of the AA,” the source explained.

Thousands of residents from Thandwe and Gwa townships have reportedly fled to Ayeyarwady Region due to ongoing fighting.

Military and political analysts predict that once the AA completely captures Gwa Township, it could expand its fighting to the Maw Tin Zun area of Ayeyarwady Region.

“The AA’s military objective, ‘Rakhita Dream’, extends from Paletwa in Chin State to Maw Tin Zun in Ayeyarwady Region. The AA will likely expand the theatre of fighting to Ngwe Thaung Yan and Chaungtha in Ayeyarwady Region after it seizes Gwa. But we’ll have to wait and see. It’s hard to say for sure,” said a military observer in Arakan State.

If Gwa falls, the AA will only have three other townships in Arakan State to occupy: Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung.