AA declares complete capture of 9 major military bases in Buthidaung and Maungdaw

Narinjara News, 8 May 2024

The Arakha Army (AA) has announced that it has successfully captured five major military bases, including the headquarters of 15th military operations command (MOC-15) in Buthidaung and four other military bases along with the Kyee Kan Pyin border guard police headquarters in Maungdaw Township of Rakhine State.

In Buthidaung, AA captured MOC 15 along with light infantry battalions (LIB) 552nd, 564th, 565th and 551st, said in the statement of AA issued on 4 May 2024.  

The fierce battle continued as the AA fighters chased junta soldiers retreating from the 551st light infantry battalion and the MOC-15 headquarters in Buthidaung.

The fleeing soldiers tried to resist from Tan Shauk Khan village under  Buthidaung township, but the AA fighters overpowered  them.

The 552nd battalion was captured on 25 March, 564th battalion on 5 April,  565th battalion on 24 April, MOC-15 headquarters on 2 May and 551st battalion on 3 May.

 The offensive against MOC-15 headquarters  intensified from the last week of April  and resulted in its fall after almost two weeks of fighting.

The military bases, captured by the AA fighters in Maungdaw on the western border of Rakhine State, include a hill-based camp with a cell tower, a 6-mile hill-based camp, the number 1 border guard police battalion (Kyee Kan Pyin) and number 10 border guard police battalion (Hla Phoe Khaung).

The AA fighters have also seized a large volume of arms, ammunition and military equipment.

 The AA paid tribute to the fighters who sacrificed their lives in the battle. Fierce clashes also went on in Maungdaw, Ann, Kyaukphyu and Thandwe townships.