The Arakan Army (AA) says it has seized the last Myanmar junta base in the country’s most popular beach, Ngapali, in Thandwe Township, Rakhine State, after weeks of attacks. It said pockets of regime troops continue to fight.
The AA said it captured the Infantry Battalion 55 headquarters at the beach town on Tuesday morning, seizing weapons and ammunition.
The armed group began attacking Thandwe on April 13 and says it has seized 15 regime bases and outposts, killed over 400 troops and endured heavy airstrikes.
Two high schools and many houses have been damaged, the Rakhine media reported.
The armed group said the Thandwe fighting had been the toughest of its current campaign against the junta, which started in November last year.
The AA said it seized the Magyee Chaung outpost on the Bangladesh border in Maungdaw Township on Thursday.
The AA said it seized arms and ammunition and detained over 30 troops from Infantry Battalion 263 and border guards from other bases.
It estimated that around 30 regime troops from the Magyee Chaung base fled to Bangladesh.
The AA said it continues to attack the Myo Thu Gyi border guard battalion, adding that its troops have surrounded Maungdaw.
The armed group said all junta troops must be cleared from Rakhine State.
It controls 11 of Rakhine State’s 17 townships.
