The Arakha Army (AA) has launched a massive offensive from the Ngapali town bypass road since July 2 against the junta's 55th Battalion, based in that beach resort town of Thandwe Township in Arakan (Rakhine) State, while the junta has responded with heavy airstrikes.
"Clashes erupted around midday yesterday. The junta's Air Force is mainly bombing the town bypass road. The AA, which previously attacked from Zeephyukone village, has now launched an offensive from the town bypass road. The AA's advancement is now very close to the junta's battalion”, a Ngapali resident reported.
The town bypass road is located 1.5 miles from Thandwe and just half a mile from the 55th Infantry Battalion base.
"We heard that clashes erupted on the town bypass road before reaching Ngapali Basic Education High School (BEHS-Ngapali) and the rubber plantation office. The road was built up to Gyeiktaw Ward. They are fighting in the rubber plantations near the intersection where the Duwun Restaurant located”, a local said.
In the last week of June, the junta closed the town bypass road amid news of a possible AA offensive. However, AA managed to breach the blockades and swiftly approached the battalion base.
For over a week, AA has been attacking the junta's 566th Light Infantry Battalion and 55th Infantry Battalion, from Zeephyukone village and Mazin Airport. To avoid heavy junta resistance using shelling and airstrikes during these clashes, AA shifted tactics to approach the 55th Infantry Battalion via the town bypass road and launched attacks from there, a local veteran noted.
"If it weren't for air support, both of the junta's battalions would have fallen already. Even now, some reinforcement units are surrounded by AA. The only remaining escape route for junta troops is the sea route. Fighting has now erupted on the town bypass road. If AA manages to reach Nanchaung power station and block the road, communication between the battalions and police stations would be completely cut off, leading to the town easily falling into the hands of AA”, he explained.
Initially, the junta's aircraft focused their bombing around Zeephyukone and Thabyaykone villages. Now, they are also targeting nearby rubber plantations in response to reports of AA troops approaching the rear of the 55th Battalion.
After capturing the areas around Mazin (Thandwe) Airport and Ngapali town, AA continued its offensive to seize control of the bases of the junta's two battalions.
In addition, AA also announced heavy ongoing fighting as it relentlessly attacks to capture other junta fortifications in Thandwe.
