[Tee tiong huat]

The Arakan Army (AA) says it is intensifying its efforts to capture last remaining junta outpost in Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township now that it has taken full control of its administrative centre. Group said it defeated last regime forces in the town of Maungdaw 3-weeks ago now focussed on taking Border Guard Police Battalion 5 base on the border with Bangladesh.

To defend outpost located about half a mile from
town, military has been carrying out relentless airstrikes, Maungdaw resident said. “AA has base surrounded on all sides, so has been non-stop bombing in recent days. They’ve destroyed at least 10 houses here in town,” said resident. He added iqn addition to being hit by airstrikes, Maungdaw is now littered with landmines left behind by junta troops. AA has begun removing them.

A merchant based in Pauktaw, near state capital Sittwe, suggested AA’s success in Maungdaw could bring some relief to rest of Rakhine State, which has been suffering from a scarcity of goods due to junta blockades of land & water routes to other parts of Myanmar.
“If all of Maungdaw is completely captured by the AA, trade with Bangladesh will open up and maybe things will improve.”
https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/arakan-a...-maungdaw/