AA to continue offensives against junta in Rakhine State, military bases in Ann, Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Gwa, Taungup, Manaung on rather

Khaing Lu Hla

Narinjara News, 3 June 2024

The Arakan Army (AA), now boasting 40,000 standing troops, has been preparing to maintain its offensives against the remaining military strongholds in eight townships of Rakhine State.

The United League of Arakan (ULA), which issued a statement regarding the junta’s massacre in Byine Phyu village under  Sittwe township, indicated their preparedness for the offensives.

It may be mentioned that the fierce gun fighting is going on in the Arakan region between the  junta forces and AA fighters. After seizing all military bases in Buthidaung, the AA fighters are now targeting the major towns in the region. They are now preparing to target junta's remaining camps in Ann, Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Gwa, Taungup, and Manaung townships, said the ULA statement.

The junta is trying to defend those remaining military bases and preparing for the counter-offensives.

A Maungdaw-based military analyst stated that the junta has deployed reinforcements to Maungdaw town and they are seemingly preparing to reclaim the areas from the control of AA.

"I think they'll launch a new offensive on northern Maungdaw, which is currently held by the AA. Last evening, a surveillance aircraft flew between Kyee Kan Pyin and 4-mile for many times,” he added.

On 1 June, the soldiers and weapons from Sittwe town were sent by two landing craft to the 5th border guard police battalion, 2nd border guard police battalion and Kanyin Chaung economic one via the Maungdaw port of entry.

"We come to know that there are thousands of soldiers who are being reinforced with military barges, including the 22nd division, 77th division, 33rd division, 55th division, etc. At 6 am, reinforcements were sent to the border guard battalions. More than 20 cars carried the soldiers and they are now deployed with weapons," he stated.

The military junta is reinforcing multiple divisions in Maungdaw, but Narinjara News can not confirm the information independently.

Meanwhile, the  junta soldiers continue  targeting civilian infrastructures, including hospitals in the villages and towns. Moreover, they are targeting the civilians with airstrikes, drone bombings and deliberate attacks.

In an interview with The New Humanitarian, the AA leaders asserted that they have nearly 40,000 standing troops in addition to several thousand auxiliary members.