AA-military hostilities intensify across three Arakan State townships

By Admin 28 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
28 September 2024, Maungdaw

Clashes between Myanmar's military regime and Arakkha Army (AA) are reportedly escalating in Arakan State's Maungdaw, Ann and Gwa townships.

The AA clashed with the military near Kyaukpasat Village in Gwa Township at around 7 a.m. on September 27, a source on the ground told DMG.

"The AA ambushed a military column at a location near Kyaukpasat Village yesterday," the source said on Saturday. "The military contingent retreated from the area, but the regime attacked the scene of the fighting with a jet fighter."

A clash between the military and AA also erupted near Kyaukpasat Village on September 24, with the fighting reportedly lasting more than two hours.

The AA meanwhile clashed with the military near Kyauksakwe Village in Ann Township at about 10 a.m. on September 27, the ethnic armed group said in a statement.

Some junta soldiers were killed and injured during the fighting and the AA seized weapons and military equipment, the statement said.

The day prior, a 100-strong junta contingent consisting of the military's Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 346, 373 and 372 was ambushed by the AA about 4 kilometres west of Kyauksakwe Village and the clash reportedly lasted for about two hours.

The AA killed five junta soldiers and seized some weapons and military equipment during the fighting, the statement added.

Fleeing junta soldiers and armed Muslim militiamen trained by the military are being hunted down by the AA, according to the ethnic armed group's statement.

"Frequent clashes between the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Arakkha Army (AA) have been reported near the Bangladesh border in northern Arakan State's Maungdaw Township over recent days," said a resident of Maungdaw.

The AA will step up offensive attacks against the military in order to seize the Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion No. 5, the last junta camp in Maungdaw, the statement reads.

"The AA will not stop its offensive against the regime," said U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst. "Since the AA is an organisation that is fighting for the liberation of the entire Arakan State, the fighting may become fiercer. The AA will ramp up its offensive assault on the regime to take control of the military's Western Command in Ann."

The AA said on September 27 that it would continue to accelerate efforts to capture military camps, bases and BGF outposts in Arakan State.

Since launching its offensive in November, the AA has seized Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Ramree townships in Arakan State, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.