AA says it has seized airport, bases in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

The Arakan Army (AA) released a statement on Sunday claiming that it has made major advances against Myanmar’s military in three Rakhine State townships. The group, which now calls itself the Arakha Army, said that it captured several junta army positions around the town of Thandwe over the weekend, and is now in control of its airport. According to the statement, hundreds of regime soldiers from 10 different battalions died trying to defend the airport, despite receiving air support since the AA seized a nearby base on June 27. The airport is a gateway to Ngapali, Myanmar’s most famous beach resort area. Many of the properties in Ngapali’s hotel zone are owned by senior military officials or their cronies, as well as by foreign investors. The AA said in its statement that the fighting in Thandwe has been the most intense so far in its ongoing offensive for control of the state, which began in November of last year. In addition to airstrikes, the regime has also used naval and artillery attacks in its bid to hold onto the town. Nine of Rakhine’s 17 townships, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State, are already under AA control. The group says its goal is to completely eliminate all junta forces in Rakhine. The AA also confirmed in its statement that it had captured a key base in Ann Township, north of Thandwe. The Taw Hein tactical hill base fell to the group on June 23 after more than two months of fighting, according to the statement. The base is located near a bridge some 26 miles from the headquarters of the junta’s Western Regional Military Command (RMC). It also serves as a major tactical base for frontline troops in Ann Township. Casualties were reported on both sides in the fighting, but exact numbers were not provided. “We managed to capture the base after our soldiers’ various sacrifices,” the statement said, without elaborating. The group said that it was still pursuing troops from the base, and had begun launching attacks on the Western RMC headquarters, which oversees all operations in Rakhine State. Meanwhile, the AA has also claimed that it killed 350 junta soldiers during clashes for control of an outpost on the border with Bangladesh in Maungdaw Township. The outpost, located at Milestone 4 on the border, was manned by Squadron 2 of the junta’s Border Guard Police (BGP). It was seized at around 1:40pm on Saturday, the statement said. The AA said it was also attacking troops from the BGP’s Squadron 5. There are a total of 10 squadrons stationed along the border—eight in Maungdaw and two in Buthidaung.

AA says it has seized airport, bases in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

The capture of the airport in Thandwe and key bases in Ann and Maungdaw townships comes after desperate efforts by the regime to prevent further losses to AA forces

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