The Arakha Army (AA) announced that the remaining significant military bases of the junta in Arakan (Rakhine) State, such as the Western Military Command Headquarters in Ann Township, the No. 5 Military Operations Command (MOC-5) in Taungup Township, the Regional Command Headquarters, and the Danyawaddy Naval Base in Kyaukphyu Township, have been cut off from all logistic routes and are already under siege.
AA announced on July 7 that it had initiated attacks on several besieged bases, with some were partially captured.
Clashes reignited in Arakan State with AA’s offensive in November. Over the following seven months, AA advanced to the extent that nearly all towns in northern Arakan State were occupied.
Currently, AA’s offensives to capture Ann, Thandwe, and Maungdaw are intensifying, while the military situation remains tense in Kyaukphyu and Taungup, marked by occasional skirmishes.
“AA is on the brink of seizing Maungdaw entirely. It also holds a significant military advantage in Thandwe. If Thandwe falls into AA’s hands, capturing Taungup, Gwa, and Manaung in sequence will likely follow. The battles in Kyaukphyu, Ann, and Sittwe are expected to be fierce. AA's choice of military strategy in these towns will be interesting”, a military analyst suggested.
With a goal to consolidate control over the entire Arakan State, AA is now shifting its focus to the southern regions, having firmly captured the majority of northern towns.
Currently, only Gwa and Manaung remain calm without any gunshot sounds heard throughout Arakan State, but military tensions have begun to rise in those two towns since the end of June.
Despite the junta's strong defensive fortifications aimed at preventing further losses of towns under its control, these areas are now facing harsh encirclements and sieges by AA.
“It appears that AA is employing a strategy to minimize damage, focusing on encircling and blockading the enemy without unnecessary use of ammunition. For instance, the junta now relies solely on air transport to supply its troops in Sittwe. Logistic routes to Taungup have been severed since AA intercepted at Padaung. On the Arakan front, the junta is gradually finding itself in a situation where its sole remaining reliance is air superiority”, another Arakanese military analyst said.
In Arakan State, junta troops, facing a series of setbacks, have retaliated with arson attacks, airstrikes, and shelling, resulting in significant destruction of residential houses and other buildings.
