Fighting intensifies at Taungmauk Naval Base on one of two fronts in Kyaukpyu

Two fronts have opened in Kyaukpyu Township, Rakhine State, with fighting intensifying at the military junta's Taungmauk Naval Base, and hundreds of reinforcements reportedly sent to the base, according to military sources. Recently, the military junta launched an offensive on Sane town, which had been captured by the Arakan Army (AA), but the AA managed to repel the junta troops arriving in Sane town and then surround and attack the Taungmauk base again. However, currently, clashes are occurring at the Taungmauk Naval Base and in the vicinity of Minbyen and Sainchaung villages, and due to the increased pace of AA's attacks, the naval base area is experiencing the most intense fighting, CDM Major Zin Yaw told Mizzima. "The fighting at the Taungmauk Naval Base is becoming more intense. At the Taungmauk Naval Base headquarters, the military has had to reinforce with about 400 troops, including more than one tactical commander. The Taungmauk Naval Base has become a major stronghold of the military's unyielding defense. Ultimately, the Arakan Army is in a position to capture the defense outposts of the Taungmauk Naval Base," he said. In early May, the military junta first launched an offensive on Sane town, but the Arakan Army side has been in a counter-offensive posture, and the situation may have changed on the Taungmauk front in Kyaukpyu. Subsequently, the Arakan Army (AA) has not yet fully captured the Taungmauk Naval Base in its current state, but has reached a position where it can surround and control it, Major Zin Yaw analyzed. The military junta is struggling to prevent the Taungmauk Naval Base from falling into AA's hands, and is continuously sending a large number of troops by warships to the combat area near the naval base, but the AA side has the upper hand, according to regional military sources. "Fighting is intensifying near the Taungmauk Naval Base. The Arakan Army side is seen to have the advantage. The military council (military junta) side is in a cornered situation. They are also continuously sending troops to resist fiercely. Clashes are occurring in the Minbyen area, but intermittently. The casualties are not yet precisely known. We will know after the unit releases the information," he told Mizzima. The AA side has the upper hand on the eastern side of Kyaukpyu, where Taungmauk is located. On the western side of Kyaukpyu, in the Minbyen and Sainchaung areas, the Arakan Army no longer has strong military bases. The military junta is gradually expanding its territory in the old footholds previously occupied by the Arakan Army, but due to the Arakan Army's renewed offensive, contact fighting is currently occurring in these areas, military sources said. The military junta attempted to launch an amphibious assault using land, sea, and air forces during the fighting, but is only in a defensive position due to the AA's counter-offensive. The Arakan Army (AA) has captured and controlled 14 towns in Rakhine State, including Paletwa Township in Chin State, and is still striving to gain the remaining three towns. Editor – Thant Zaw (Thanlyin) The post Fighting intensifies at Taungmauk Naval Base on one of two fronts in Kyaukpyu appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.