Aye MyatKhaing, NarinjaraNews, 7 May 2024

 Hundreds ofjunta soldiers, including the deputy division commander, along with theirfamilies surrendered to the Arakha Army (AA) following a massive offensive onthe headquarters of 15th military operations command (MOC-15), which had beenunder siege by the AA fighters for some days.

The AA in avideo release on Monday claimed that those who surrendered their lives werespared. Till now, hundreds of junta soldiers were killed during the battle tocapture MOC-15 and the AA fighters are now chasing the remaining soldiers, whomanaged to escape.

The AAvideo claims that many Muslims, who received military training, were with thejunta soldiers.

On 4 Maythe AA fighters completely captured four major military bases including theheadquarters of 15th military operations command (MOC-15) along with four otherbattalions in Buthidaung locality. Kyee Kan Pyin border guard policeheadquarters in Maungdaw township has  also gone to AA’s control.

The AAfighters  seized control of the headquarters of 15th military operationscommand (MOC-15) and several light infantry battalions in Buthidaung. They havealso occupied various strategic locations including the hill-based camps,border guard police battalions and military bases in Maungdaw.

Now Rakhinepolitical analysts apprehend that both the Buthidaung and Maungdaw regions willfall very soon.

On 4 and 5May, as the conflict escalated in both the regions, 132 junta soldiers soughtrefuge in Bangladesh and they also carried their weapons with them.