- Web Master
- October 21, 2024
Khaing Lu Hla
Narinjara News, 3 June 2024
The Arakan Army (AA), now boasting 40,000 standing troops, has been preparing
to maintain its offensives against the remaining military strongholds in eight
townships of Rakhine State.
The United League of Arakan (ULA), which issued a
statement regarding the junta’s massacre in Byine Phyu village under
Sittwe township, indicated their preparedness for the offensives.
It may be mentioned that the fierce gun fighting is going on in the Arakan
region between the junta forces and AA fighters. After seizing all
military bases in Buthidaung, the AA fighters are now targeting the major towns
in the region. They are now preparing to target junta's remaining camps in Ann,
Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Gwa, Taungup, and Manaung townships, said
the ULA statement.
The junta is trying to defend those remaining military
bases and preparing for the counter-offensives.
A Maungdaw-based military analyst stated that the
junta has deployed reinforcements to Maungdaw town and they are seemingly
preparing to reclaim the areas from the control of AA.
"I think they'll launch a new offensive on northern Maungdaw, which is
currently held by the AA. Last evening, a surveillance aircraft flew between
Kyee Kan Pyin and 4-mile for many times,” he added.
On 1 June, the soldiers and weapons from Sittwe town
were sent by two landing craft to the 5th border guard police battalion, 2nd
border guard police battalion and Kanyin Chaung economic one via the Maungdaw
port of entry.
"We come to know that there are thousands of soldiers who are being
reinforced with military barges, including the 22nd division, 77th division,
33rd division, 55th division, etc. At 6 am, reinforcements were sent to the border guard
battalions. More than 20 cars carried the soldiers and they are now deployed
with weapons," he stated.
The military junta is reinforcing multiple divisions in Maungdaw, but Narinjara
News can not confirm the information independently.
Meanwhile, the junta soldiers continue
targeting civilian infrastructures, including hospitals in the villages
and towns. Moreover, they are targeting the civilians with airstrikes, drone
bombings and deliberate attacks.
In an interview with The New Humanitarian, the AA
leaders asserted that they have nearly 40,000 standing troops in addition to
several thousand auxiliary members.