The Arakan Army (AA) says its troops have penetrated Maung Shwe Lay Naval Base, the junta’s last remaining stronghold in Thandwe Township, Rakhine State.
“Fighting is raging around Maung Shwe Lay and Kwin Wyne naval bases,” AA spokesman Khaing Thukha told The Irrawaddy.
AA troops launched the onslaught on Maung Shwe Lay Naval Base in Thabyugyaing after seizing Thandwe town and the adjacent Ngapali Beach last month.
“AA troops have entered parts of the naval base and seized most of it. Junta soldiers around the base have fled their posts and the AA is clearing the area,” a source close to the ethnic army said.
Fighting is also raging in Kyeintali town, around 60 kilometers down the coast from Thandwe.
The junta responded to attacks on Maung Shwe Lay by reinforcing its fleet of four to five patrol boats with naval vessels from Pathein in Ayeyarwady Region. The base now houses around eight Navy boats, according to residents.
The regime has been using the boats to ship reinforcements and artillery supplies, the AA information department reported on Monday.
Junta forces are also conducting aerial attacks on villages surrounding the base as clashes intensify, inflicting civilian casualties, the AA said.
Since launching its Rakhine offensive in November, the AA has seized Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Ramree townships, plus Paletwa Township in neighboring Chin State. It has also captured most of Maungdaw Township on the border with Bangladesh.
source : irrawaddy