Narinjara News, 4January 2025 

The Arakan Army (AA) and its allied groups have initiated concurrent attacks on junta military locations at the three mountain passes in the Arakan mountains, linking Arakan State to mainland Myanmar. 

On the night of January 3, clashes erupted between allied troops commanded by the AA and junta forces at the Meik Ta Lin military camp in the Ayeyarwady Region, situated just past the Bay Dar checkpoint along the Gwa-Ngathainggyaung road. 

"Beyond the Bay Dar checkpoint, there exists a military camp known as Meik Ta Lin. It is situated in the Ayeyarwady Region. Clashes erupted there tonight as the AA and its allied forces initiated an assault. The 344th artillery battalion in Ngathainggyaung is currently launching artillery shells," a source stated. 

Clashes also erupted today at the Bay Dar checkpoint, located 25 miles from Gwa Town, and were said to be ongoing at the Meik Ta Lin camp into the evening. 

"It is challenging to recommend because the conflict is occurring in the Arakan mountains, and it’s hard to know for certain. Is the AA currently assaulting the Meik Ta Lin camp, or are they engaging with junta troops fleeing from the Bay Dar checkpoint? We cannot state with certainty. What is clear is that there is combat occurring in the Arakan mountains, 25 miles past Gwa, and at the Meik Ta Lin camp," the source stated. 

The Bay Dar checkpoint, situated 25 miles from Gwa Town in the Arakan mountains, signifies the end of the Arakan State border. At the same time, the Meik Ta Lin camp is located in the Ayeyarwady Region. 

The source additionally mentioned that artillery shells were launched from Ngathainggyaung towards the location of the conflict this evening. 

Currently, the scale of the destruction, the number of casualties, and the condition of the camps remain unclear. 

Recently, the AA and its allied forces have been conducting attacks on junta positions in the border mountain passes linking Arakan State, resulting in fierce clashes on the Ann-Padan-Minbu road, the Taungup-Padaung-Pyay road, and the Gwa-Ngathainggyaung road. Simultaneously, the junta has been carrying out intense airstrikes in these regions. 

Local sources suggest that junta troops have incurred significant losses in the Taung Paw Gyi conflict along the Taungup-Pyay road and in confrontations on the Gwa Township border, with injured soldiers being transported to Pathein Hospital. 

A military source reported, "The junta forces suffered numerous casualties in the Taung Paw Gyi battle. I also heard that injured soldiers were being taken in military vehicles to Pathein in the Ayeyarwady Region on several occasions. This data is sourced from people familiar with the junta.“

With ongoing clashes throughout the three Arakan Mountain passes, the junta is enhancing security and undertaking substantial military preparations in the Magway, Bago, and Ayeyarwady Regions, which link to the Arakan Mountains.