Myanmar: AA Captures Over 40 Junta Bases In First 10 Days Of Latest Arakan Hostilities

November 22 marked 10 days of renewed fighting in Arakan State, an outgrowth of an offensive by the Brotherhood Alliance launched against the regime in northern Shan State on October 27, a coordinated campaign known as Operation 1027.

The Arakan Army (AA) has occupied four Border Guard Force outposts within 10 days of the latest hostilities in Arakan State. The AA also seized over 40 BGF outposts and police stations abandoned by junta troops, the ethnic armed group said in a statement on Wednesday.

The AA has occupied the Donepaik and Cheinkharlein BGF outposts in Rathedaung Township, the Donenyo BGF outpost in Maungdaw Township and the Hkahteehla BGF outpost in Buthidaung Township in recent days.

Some policemen and BGF members surrendered to the AA and some abandoned their camps for better protected and manned military positions.

The AA told junta personnel to contact their nearest AA bases immediately and surrender “if they don’t want to die and want to see their families and relatives [again].”

Fierce clashes between the military and AA have been ongoing in Chin State’s Paletwa Township and Pauktaw Township in Arakan State.

Fighting continued in Paletwa Township after the Arakan Army (AA) had launched attacks on two of the military’s strategic hilltop camps near Taronai Village on November 14.

The junta airlifted weapons and food to its troops in Paletwa during the fighting and some weapons were seized on November 21, an AA statement said.

Fighting between the military and AA is intensifying in Pauktaw, with junta jet fighters carrying out airstrikes on residential areas, the statement said.

The military and AA are fighting fiercely in Arakan state and the theatre of battle is gradually expanding. As of November 22, about 80 civilian casualties were reported due largely to the junta’s indiscriminate airstrikes and shellings.

The number of people displaced by junta artillery and airstrikes in Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Ponnagyun and Minbya townships has risen to nearly 60,000.