Jonathan, Narinjara News, 21 December 2024

The Arakan Army's (AA) takeover of the Western Command in Ann, Arakan State, has been a major focus of international news, receiving extensive media attention from countries nearby and in the region.

Media sources from nations like Thailand's Bangkok Post, India's The Times of India, Bangladesh's Bdnews24, and regional platforms such as The Straits Times, CNA, and BBC from Singapore, alongside significant global entities like The Japan Times, AP, Reuters, and The Guardian , have highlighted the AA's takeover of the Western Command as prominent news.

The Arakan Army (AA), a formidable ethnic armed organization, has seized control of the Myanmar military's Western Command in Arakan State. According to The Guardian, this signifies the second regional military command to succumb to ethnic armed groups within five months, representing a considerable setback for the military.

As an informal ASEAN meeting regarding Myanmar took place in Thailand on December 20 to address initiatives aimed at peacefully resolving the conflict, the AA, a significant ethnic armed faction in western Myanmar, took control of the strategically vital Western Command, bringing them closer to seizing the whole state, reported AP.

The AP also highlighted that the perceived decline of the Western Command represents a major setback for the Myanmar military.

The AA's takeover of this military headquarters, located in western Myanmar near the Bangladesh border, comes after two weeks of fierce combat, signifying the second regional command to be seized by ethnic armed groups. The AA, a member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, launched an offensive in October 2023, achieving multiple critical victories near Myanmar's border with China, according to the Bangkok Post.

The seizure of the Western Command signifies a pivotal moment in the conflict. Nevertheless, the Myanmar military has not yet provided any statement regarding the collapse of the command.

Following the military coup in early 2021, Myanmar has experienced unrest, as protests have intensified into a widespread armed resistance. Arakan State, a coastal area adjacent to Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal, continues to be one of Myanmar's poorest regions, despite its offshore natural gas reserves and the proposed Kyaukphyu economic zone featuring pipelines transporting oil and gas to China, The Times of India stated. .

The AA completely seized the Western Command in Ann Town, Arakan State, at noon on December 20. Amidst the confrontation, Brigadier General Thaung Tun, the Western Command's deputy leader, and Brigadier General Kyaw Kyaw Than, the chief operations officer, suffered injuries and were taken captive, as confirmed to Narinjara News by AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha on that same day.

By 1:40 pm on December 20, the AA had fully seized the Ann-based Western Command, gaining control of Ann Town, a district-level town.

With this win, the AA has now seized 14 townships overall, with only Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung towns remaining.

Following the capture of the Northeastern Command by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in August, the AA has now assumed control of the Western Command, indicating the collapse of the junta's second regional command.