Arakan Army came out with the claim that its members have occupied a temporary artillery base of Myanmar security forces in the front line of Myebon township on 22 September after three hours of fierce fighting.

Khaing Thu Ka, spokesperson of AA informed Narinjara that the occupied artillery base is centrally located in Arakan (Rakhine) province and the security forces often used it for firing artillery shells on AA members.

AA issued a statement on 23 September with a photograph of the seized ammunition and other items from the artillery base belonging to Myanmar Army’s artillery battery no 373.

The statement also added that AA found 10 bodies of soldiers, 5 sophisticated arms including one MG 42 machinegun, four MA assault rifles, 60 mm mortar shells, three RPG propelled grenades, nine combat helmets, 18 baskets of ammunition etc with few cell phones in the base.

Myanmar Army personnel and AA members have been fighting on the localities since 21 September and the next day AA succeeded in capturing the temporary artillery base after three hours of heavy gun fires.

According to AA spokesperson, the security forces retreated after the fierce fighting hours and AA armed members have conquered the base finally. Three  AA members sustained injuries in the encounter, added Khaing Thu Ka.

However, western command spokesperson Brigadier Win Zaw Oo denied that AA could occupy the artillery base in the area.

“We have reports about the fierce fighting with AA members in Myebon township, but no military artillery base had fallen to them,” asserted Win Zaw Oo.

The encounter in Myebon township continued for five days from 21 September and the army even conducted airstrikes on AA members by four helicopters on 25 September.

Meanwhile, many villagers from Yosa Non locality, which is adjacent to the battlefield, left their residences for safer places including Downton area under Myebon township.