AA Counter-Offensive Against Junta Forces, Seizes Another Military Camp on Wa Bo Island

Fighting is intensifying between the Arakan Army (AA) and the junta forces in the border areas of Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships in Rakhine State, and the AA has newly captured a junta military camp near Wa Bo Island, according to ground sources. The intense fighting, which began on September 4, has been ongoing for days, and on the morning of September 23, the AA launched a counter-offensive and captured a junta military camp on Wa Bo Island, where nearly 100 troops were stationed. Furthermore, it has been reported that on September 24, another junta military outpost near Taokhan village was successfully captured, and camps on Amin Gyi Island and Ye Yoprin were seized in the past few days. "The fighting near Sittwe is still ongoing. It is reaching a point where it will threaten the regional command. To put it plainly, the offensive launched without being able to win is causing significant damage to the military. The AA has been capturing camps within Sittwe Township," a source told the Irrawaddy Times. During the camp capture operations, there were casualties on the junta side, with some soldiers fleeing and escaping. A large amount of ammunition and military equipment was seized by the AA, and some prisoners were also captured. As the junta forces are suffering losses on the ground in these battles, they are intensifying aerial bombardments and heavy artillery fire on villages and surrounding areas near camps in Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships. It is reported that the AA has captured and controlled more than nine of the junta forces' main outposts and strongholds during the renewed fighting that began on September 4. Photo: Weapons, ammunition, and military equipment seized in the Rakhine-Magway border area on September 20/21 (old photo)