International Desk: The insurgent group Arakan Army (AA) has claimed to wrest control of western Rakhine State from the Myanmar military. In addition to Rakhine, insurgent groups have taken control of most of the cities in several states bordering China and India.
The Arakan Army (AA) said it had recaptured at least 15 of Rakhine’s 17 towns and the town of Paletwa in Chin state. They have also captured at least 142 military posts in the army in these two states. News of Irrawaddy.
In addition, the insurgent groups have also captured Khampat, a town bordering India in the Sagaing region in the southwestern part of the country. Since December 10, 200 troops of the Myanmar army have been fighting to regain control of the city. The military is attacking the positions of the rebels by land and air.
Heavy clashes between insurgents and the military continue in Mrauk U, Paktao, and Mangdu in northern Rakhine, and Paletwa in southern China. Clashes broke out between the Arakan Army and the military near Kwai Thaung Church in Mrauk U town last Wednesday. A large number of members of the junta forces lost their lives in this conflict. Later, the Junta Army carried out airstrikes targeting the positions of the rebels.
The military seized power in Myanmar in a coup d’état on February 1, 2021, shortly before Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, the NLD, won a second term in power after winning elections. Since then, the country’s civilian population and armed groups have been in conflict with the country’s army. Recently, the country’s rebel groups have formed alliances to strengthen the movement against the military junta.
Millions of people have been displaced by insurgent attacks against the military on several fronts in the country. The junta forces have lost control of their bases and security posts to the rebels. Rebel groups and pro-democracy political parties formed a coalition called the National Unity Government and launched a united attack against Myanmar’s junta since last October. Members of the rebel alliance have taken control of several cities and military security posts near the Chinese border in the north and west of the country.
