Many soldiers including 550th battalion tactical commander, 208th battalion commander killed

A significant number of junta soldiers including colonel Myo Min Ko Ko, tactical operation commander of 550th light infantry battalion, lieutenant colonel Phyo Thu Aung, battalion commander of 208th infantry battalion and major Saw Htwe of  550th light infantry battalion, were killed during the clash in Ponna Kyunt of Rakhine State, claimed the Arakan Army (AA).

Earlier,  Ponna Kyunt Myoma police station came under the AA’s control on 22 February. Then the AA fighters defeated the soldiers and took control of 550^th light infantry battalion on 4 March, said an AA statement.

The 550th battalion was targeted by the AA fighters on 21 February. Finally they completely captured the battalion despite fierce resistance from the junta's army, navy and air force personnel.

Several junta soldiers were also captured and a large volume of arms & ammunition were seized.

The AA fighters spared the lives of soldiers who surrendered raising the white flag. Their family members are also sent to safe custody with protection and care.

At around 8 am on 3 March, the AA's special  forces intercepted two barges dispatched by the junta to provide reinforcements to the Ponna Kyunt-based 550th battalion and later prevented another barge attempting to rescue them from advancing, added the statement.

Although the AA fighters could not succeed in damaging those three barges, but their offensive created suffering among the soldiers on board.

Despite the airstrikes and artillery shelling by the junta forces from their bases in Sittwe and Buthidaung, the AA fighters achieved another success  in the naval battle, conclude the statement.