Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 6th January 2025

The Arakan Army (AA) has seized control of the junta's Taung Sauk military camp, which protects a Chinese gas pipeline substation situated 20 miles from Ann Town in Arakan State. 

A military source in Ann informed Narinjara News that the AA took control of the Taung Sauk camp a few days ago, with junta forces withdrawing due to significant losses. 

It can be stated that the AA has seized control of the camps and outposts surrounding the Taung Sauk camp, including the camp itself, which protects the Chinese gas pipeline substation. The AA has assumed control of the outposts established to safeguard the Chinese pipeline," the source stated. 

The source mentioned that the AA additionally captured several  junta soldiers from camps on Taung Sauk mountain throughout the battle and confiscated weapons and ammunition. 

"During the fighting, soldiers were taken prisoner, and arms were confiscated." Approximately 20 soldiers from the junta died, and numerous others ran away," he stated. 

The source additionally indicated that the AA has taken control of outposts guarding Chinese gas pipelines in the Arakan Mountains of Ann Township and is currently following junta soldiers escaping towards the Magway Region. 

The junta had bolstered the Taung Sauk camp with soldiers and artillery, regularly shelling Ann Town and the nearby region throughout the fight to seize the town in December. 

The AA has not issued any statement concerning the takeover of the Taung Sauk military camps; however, spokesperson U Khaing Thukha verified to the media that the AA successfully seized the junta camps in Taung Sauk. 

Furthermore, on January 5, the military affairs office of the Chinaland Defense Force-Asho (CDF-Asho) released a statement indicating that 11 junta soldiers were apprehended along with 9 weapons while preventing the escape of junta forces from Taung Sauk and Sin Khon Taing, where the Chinese pipeline is situated in Ann Township.