Kant Kaw Ni Ni, Narinjara News, 29 September 2024

The Arakan Army (AA) launched drone attacks on amilitary junta camp located near Taungup University in Taungup town of Arakan State. 

The attack was followed by 30 minutes of artillery and small arms firing, saidlocal residents.

A military source in Taungup said that the AA fightersconducted two drone strikes on the junta camp located on U Tun Hlaing hill nearTaungup University at around 9 am on 28 September.

"The junta forces are stationed on U Tun Hlaing hill. The AA fighterscarried out drone attacks on the camp. The number of casualties remainsunknown," added the source.

The residents also heard the sound of four explosionswhich sounded like artillery shelling, followed by bursts of gunfire.

"From the direction of Taungup University, we heard the sound," saida young female resident of Taungup.

The junta forces had already fortified theirpositions, placing artillery on Taungup University campus and setting up a campon U Tun Hlaing hill, located behind the checkpoint.

Taungup also houses the Military Operations Command(MOC-5) along with the 346th and 544th light infantry battalions.

In early August, fearing an offensive by the AAfighters, the junta soldiers launched airstrikes on nearby villages causingmany casualties.

On the night of 24 September, the junta soldiers conducted airstrikes withfighter jets targeting the Tan Lwe Ywar Ma police station and other areas inTaungup. The attack killed two civilians, including a university student andinjured three others and also damaged several buildings.

By 28 September, the junta forces  conductedhouse-to-house inspections in the villages under  Wet Kyaik village-tractof Taungup locality.

The day before, the AA announced plans to intensifyits offensive to capture all remaining junta bases in the Arakan region.

Photograph: Resistance forces deploying drones intheir fight against the military junta (old photo).