AA attacks junta forces reinforcement column, 60 soldiers killed

 The Arakan Army (AA) has launched a massive  attack on a military junta column reinforced with four helicopters towards  Ramree township of Rakhine State, where the gun fighting is escalating.

It  resulted in the killing of over 60 junta soldiers and seizure of a substantial volume of arms, said a statement issued by the AA on Sunday.

On 24 February, the junta sent around 120 soldiers by helicopters. They made seven drops to deliver the reinforcements, added the statement.

The AA fighters attacked the reinforcement column and also persisted in attacking the remaining group of soldiers.

The reinforcement column included the 36th infantry battalion stationed in Kyonpyaw township of Ayeyarwady region under the south western command and the 373rd light infantry battalion stationed in Ann township under the same command.

Due to daily airstrikes conducted by the junta forces on Ramree locality, most of the residential buildings, hospitals, schools, monasteries and religious structures were destroyed.

After Pauktaw township in the Rakhine region, Ramree remains the most affected town by the junta’s airstrikes.

The  AA fighters later recovered the bodies of soldiers along with a large volume of arms and ammunition. Despite continuous airstrikes conducted by the junta forces throughout the day, the junta's reinforcement column was defeated, asserted the statement.