Anti-regime forces led by the Arakan Army (AA) seized control of Taungup (Toungup) in southern Rakhine State on Friday morning, overrunning the remaining junta outposts in the centre of town, local sources said.
Residents of the town told Myanmar Now that AA fighters had advanced into Taungup Township’s urban wards this week, forcing all remaining junta personnel to retreat.
“The military has withdrawn its forces and the AA is now taking up positions inside the town,” a man from Taungup said.
The AA has yet to capture the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 346 and 544 bases or the Myanmar army’s Military Operations Command 5 (MOC-5) headquarters outside the town centre, which are still in the junta forces’ hands.
The military regime’s air force carried out bombing raids on Tuesday amid clashes between the junta and AA in Taungup, killing at least four civilians. . .
Subscribe for full access
Myanmar Now is proudly nonprofit and 100% independent. We rely on the support of readers to fund our award-winning newsroom. Subscribe now to unlock our in-depth reporting.
Already a subscriber? Log in
