Arakan Army captures another Rakhine State town, warns locals clashes may continue

The Arakan Army (AA) took over Myebon on Thursday, adding a sixth town to the territories under its control in Rakhine State and neighbouring Paletwa Township, Chin State. “After a three-month operation in Rakhine and Paletwa, the AA has taken control of Paletwa, Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, now followed by Myebon, along with many military bases and police stations,” the ethnic armed organisation announced on Thursday. However, the group reportedly warned locals that fighting may resume in and near Myebon Township if the junta tries to recapture it. “We were told by the AA to leave the town for about ten days because we could land in trouble if [junta troops] return,” said a resident of Myebon, 54, who left on Monday with her two children. She added that most junta soldiers and police appeared to have withdrawn from the town already by the time she left on Monday, with the AA fighters moving in to take their place. “We didn’t even know when they left, but the word was that they left the town at dawn,” she said. Intense fighting also occurred in the state’s Rathedaung, Ramree, and Maungdaw townships, according to the AA’s statement, which also noted the junta forces’ increased deployment of indiscriminate airstrikes and shelling in civilian areas. “We will continue attacking the rest of the military bases elsewhere until none are left,” the AA said in the Thursday statement. Earlier in the week, the group issued a public warning to junta soldiers to surrender their arms to the AA within the week, as they intended to target all remaining junta outposts and bases in the state. The AA has made efforts to counteract the military’s varied tactics. Responding to the junta forces’ increased use of warships to navigate the state’s rivers and shell villages from the water, the AA has sunk four junta ships in the past week. The armed group released a video on February 14 showing two high-ranking officers—Brig.-Gen. Zaw Min Tun, who was captured after escaping one of the sunken ships, and Deputy Brig.-Gen. Nyi Nyi Wine, who had previously been arrested by the AA in Kyauktaw.

Arakan Army captures another Rakhine State town, warns locals clashes may continue

Taking over Myebon, the ethnic armed group told the civilian population to seek shelter elsewhere in case the expelled junta troops returned and tried to recapture the town

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