The Arakan Army (AA) has brought Taungup, a district-level town in southern Arakan State, under its control after capturing the strategically important 5th Military Operations Command (MOC-5), said Khaing Thu Kha, a spokesperson of AA.
The capture of Taungup was realized after five days of taking control of Maungdaw, another district-level town located near the Bangladesh border on 8 December.
"After the AA fighters launched an offensive, an intense fighting broke out. During the battle, all battalion commanders, military officers, and soldiers of MOC-5 surrendered to AA by raising a white flag. The AA fighters successfully captured MOC-5 in the morning hours on 14 December," added Mr Khaing.
The AA fighters have reportedly taken hundreds of surrendered junta soldiers to a safer place.
The AA first captured the junta's 364th and 544th light infantry battalions before successfully taking the infamous MOC-5, a major stronghold of the military regime, on Saturday.
Now the AA has captured all three military operation commands in Arakan State namely 15th Military Operations Command (MOC-15) based in Buthidaung, 9th Military Operations Command (MOC-9) based in Kyauktaw and 5th Military Operations Command (MOC-5) based in Taungup.
Within a year, the AA gained control over 17 townships in Chin State, including Paletwa township, and five towns only remained to be captured in Arakan State, including the capital city of Sittwe.
The AA fighters began an offensive to capture Taungup on 31 August 2024 and finally took control over the town.
They have also seized a significant volume of arms & ammunition along with modern weapons and drones from MOC-5, as well as from the 363rd and 544th light infantry battalions in Taungup locality.
However, the AA is yet to issue any statement regarding the capture of Taungup.
The general people are eagerly waiting for a statement from the AA after widespread reports indicated that they have fully captured the Western Command in Ann town, where the AA is currently conducting an offensive.
The AA is also carrying out an offensive in Gwa town, located at the southern tip of Arakan State.
