[Tee tiong huat]

An ethnic army in Myanmar launched an attack on yet another major city in the country’s west, with the state’s capital close behind, according to locals on Thursday. The Arakan Army, already in control of three townships in Rakhine state, began an assault on the seaside township of Rathedaung on Wed, residents told Radio Free Asia, that junta officials are retaliating in coastal area by air, land and sea.

“The AA attacked junta’s battalions in Rathedaung on Wednesday, frequent sound of heavy and small weapons could be heard, and airstrikes were carried out,” said a Rathedaung resident who declined to be named for safety reasons. “The junta is shelling artillery now.” The AA targeted Rathedaung-based junta battalions of 536, 537 and 538, according to locals.

Calls by RFA to Rakhine’s junta spokesperson Hla Thein and national junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun went unanswered. The junta’s retaliation largely focused on civilians, township residents said, adding troops shelled nine villages with heavy artillery near Rathedaung city.

The AA said on Wednesday that Kha Naung Gyi, Ywar Thit Kay and Nwar Tin Koke were the first to be ambushed. Following the cessation of a year-long ceasefire with junta troops in November, AA has seized control of 3-townships – the historic capital of Mrauk-U, Minbya, and Kyauktaw. Additionally, the resistance force took over city of Pauktaw & Taung Pyo, a military post on Bangladesh border, alongside adjacent city of Paletwa in Chin state.

Separately, the AA also captured the Western Regional Headquarters in Kyauktaw, one of the state’s three junta headquarters, on Monday.

Moving South -- Publications in Rakhine cited sources close to AA stating on Monday, the anti-junta group warned of its plans to target Sittwe-based junta Military Regional Command HQ. Furthermore reportedly demanded junta’s to surrender b4 their arrival in Rakhine state’s capital.

There are reports that Arakan Army is going to attack Sittwe city. Defensive forts at battalions, nearby offices & outskirts of city are built &prepared, he said. “I saw army’s family members are being moved out toward Yangon by military [personnel] & on civilian planes. I don’t know the exact number of people, and I can’t estimate it.” As Conflict intensifying....
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar...71557.html