AA steps up assault on military camps in Ann Twsp

By Admin 25 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
25 April 2024, Ann

It has been over one month since the Arakkha Army (AA) clashed with the military in Arakan State’s Ann Township, where the military’s Western Command headquarters is located, on March 24.

Since then, the AA has been stepping up assaults on the military’s Tawhein tactical command base, Swaechaung tactical command base, Point 299 and other military camps in Ann Township.

“The AA has been launching attacks on the military’s Tawhein tactical command base. The sound of gunfire was heard near the military’s Point 299 from the morning to the evening on April 24,” said a local resident in Ann.

Under the No. 5 Military Operations Command, the Tawhein tactical command base is located near the Yangon-Sittwe road about 20 miles west of Ann.

Fierce clashes between the military and AA have been reported in Ann Township since March 24, with the regime using its army, navy and air forces to respond to the AA’s attack. Local people from villages near the scenes of fighting were forced to flee.

“The AA has warned the junta soldiers in Ann Township to surrender, but junta soldiers refused to surrender. It will be interesting to see how Ann’s situation develops,” said another Ann resident.

Ann Township is home to the military’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) Nos. 371, 372 and 373, engineering battalions, medical corps and supply and transport battalions.

“If the AA is able to seize Ann, there will be huge military-political benefits, so the ethnic armed group is accelerating its offensive attack,” said a military-political analyst.

The AA has advised junta soldiers to surrender as soon as possible if they want to be reunited with their families rather than dying on the battlefield.

Since renewed fighting kicked off in November, the AA has so far seized control of eight townships in Arakan State as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.