- Web Master
- October 27, 2024
Minbya: Minbya township of Rakhine State is on the verge of being
captured by the Arakan Army
(AA) amid its offensives, where the junta forces have been engaging in desperate attempt to defending it with a
series of airstrikes.
Starting from 10 January, the AA fighters launched attacks on
the junta's
battalions based in Minbya locality including the 379th light infantry battalion,
380th light infantry battalion and 541st light
infantry battalion along with Kyaing Taung-based military
camp.
The intense gun fighting continues till Tuesday.
A local resident informed Narinjara News that the junta forces
carried out
multiple airstrikes starting from 5 am till the evening.
"The soldiers launched airstrikes using a jet fighter in
the morning hours
and continued air raids till the afternoon. The airstrikes persisted throughout the
evening. I stopped counting the sound of airstrikes,” added the resident.
According to another resident a fire broke out at Sin Gyi Pyin
village near
Minbya township at approximately 8 am when Mi-35 military helicopters engaged in
firing.
"At around 4 pm yesterday, we heard about intense clashes
near the 379th battalion
behind Kyaing Taung. The bombs were dropped not only in the battle zone but also on the entire town.
Additionally,
artillery shells were fired. I observed smoke lingering from the
west of Sin
Gyi Pyin village for quite some time during the morning airstrikes. The soldiers are currently
engaging jet fighters,” added the resident.
The residents reported that the AA achieved the upper hand over
the soldiers
and those battalions were on the brink of collapse. The junta forces employed devastating 500-pound
bombs too.
As of now, the AA captured the 380th battalion based in Minbya.
The remaining two
battalions are under continuous attacks from the AA fighters.
The junta is vigorously defending Minbya against the AA
fighters by deploying the
army, navy, and air force personnel.
The ongoing battle has reported a number of casualties including
that of
major Ko Ko Oo from the junta's 61st infantry battalion. A large number of junta soldiers
fled the battalion.
Minbya township also witnesses a number of houses damaged by airstrikes and artillery shells.