Arakan Army Captures Two More Junta Bases in Rakhine Amid Intense Fighting
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In the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, the Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly gained control of two additional battalion headquarters belonging to the junta forces in the towns of Mrauk U and Kyaktao in Rakhine State.
The Rakhine insurgent group, advocating for greater autonomy, revealed that heavy clashes occurred during the operation to seize these army bases, resulting in significant casualties among Myanmar junta soldiers.
The information was disclosed in a report by Thailand-based Myanmar local media outlet The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. According to the report, Arakan Army fighters successfully captured the headquarters of the Myanmar military's Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)-378 in the historic town of Mrauk U early on Monday, following several days of intense fighting.
This comes after the Arakan Army had previously seized the headquarters of LIB-540 and attacked the LIB-377 base in Mrauk U town the previous Tuesday. The Rakhine insurgent group's statement mentioned that three Myanmar army battalions shelled various areas in Mrauk U town, including the Mrauk U archaeological museum, residential neighborhoods, and surrounding villages.
The Arakan Army also reported launching attacks on the LIB-37 headquarters in Kyauktao town and other junta bases in Minbiah, Kyauktao, and Mrauk U towns on February 2. Ongoing clashes were reported in towns such as Rathedong, Ponnagyun, Ramri, and An, accompanied by air and sea bombardment by the junta.
In a notable incident, the Arakan Army targeted the Tang Pyo border post near the Bangladesh border in Mangdu town, causing around 90 junta soldiers to flee across the border into Bangladesh on Sunday and Monday.
Despite this, the newly appointed Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, stated on Tuesday that a total of 264 individuals, including members of Myanmar's border guard force (BGP) and other forces, sought refuge in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man lost their lives in Bandarban due to artillery fired from Myanmar on Monday, with the Arakan Army attributing the casualties to Myanmar's junta.
Since November 13, the Arakan Army has been actively attacking junta forces across Paletwa town in northern Rakhine and neighboring South China state. The insurgent group claimed to have captured at least 170 junta positions in the town of Pauktao near Sitt, the capital of Rakhine, and other areas, including the entirety of Paletwa.