Junta relinquishes military installations including 373rd battalion in Ann
The military junta has relinquished many military installations, including the373rd light infantry battalion under the western command in Ann township ofArakan State.
A source close to the military informed Narinjara News that the junta soldierslost control of the strategic Kan Date Taung artillery hill and 373rd lightinfantry battalion, despite they tried to defend their positions usingairstrikes and engaging ground forces.
"Kan Date Taung was captured first and it was followed by the 373rdbattalion. I heard that the capture was completed on 11 October. The sound ofsmall arms firing is no longer heard here. The airstrikes were conducted usingfighter jets in the afternoon hours. Later in the night hours the 373rdbattalion fell. Some junta forces surrendered and others fled to the airdefense base," added the source.
The western command and the 373rd battalion were locatedabout five miles apart. The retreating soldiers joined the air defense andSaYaPha units.
The Arakan Army (AA) launched an offensive against the battalion on the eveningof 10 October following the capture of Mel Taung tactical operationcommand. The AA fighters seized control of the battalion the next evening.
The Kan Date Taung artillery base, the highest ridgeconnected to the area where the 373rd battalion is located, was capturedon 11 October by 2 pm.
The AA has not issued any statement regarding thecapture of these military installations and hence Narinjara News cannotauthenticate the information.
The junta soldiers repeatedly conducted airstrikes andby 4 pm they targeted Mel La Maung secondary school destroying the buildings.
They also dug a tunnel into the mountain of the air defense base to prepare fordefense against the probable AA offensive.
However, divisions among the junta forces, demoralizationamong soldiers and lack of wil may soon lead to the fall of the western commandbased in Ann locality.
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