The Arakan Army (AA) is intensifying its offensive to fully capture the Border Guard Police (BGP) No. 5 regional headquarters, located in the old Myothugyi Village area at the entrance to Maungdaw town. According to local residents from Maungdaw, heavy fighting has been ongoing as of the evening of December 6.
According to Maungdaw locals, many Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel stationed at the battalion have reportedly surrendered, while there are significant casualties and injuries. Despite intense airstrikes in support of the ground forces by the Myanmar junta, their troops are reportedly unable to hold their positions.
As a result, numerous junta troops have reportedly been killed or injured, with many others suffering from severe food and water shortages. Some are said to be so weak that they are unable to even walk, according to locals in Maungdaw.
“Since yesterday, fighter jets have been continuously carrying out airstrikes, even up to today. The junta has been relentlessly bombing with fighter jets. Smoke is visible rising from the battalion area, and heavy artillery is being fired by the Arakan Army. Junta soldiers are dying not from combat but from starvation,” a resident of Maungdaw town told Border News Agency.
In the Myothugyi battalion, over 200 to nearly 300 junta troops have reportedly died. Most deaths are attributed to severe food and water shortages, lack of medical treatment, and airstrikes by junta fighter jets, which resulted in explosions and fatalities within the camp, according to reports.
As a result, many junta troops, unable to endure the severe food and water shortages and lack of medical treatment, have reportedly surrendered in large numbers due to low morale. Locals in Maungdaw suggest that the entire Myothugyi battalion may soon raise the white flag and surrender.
Additionally, the Arakan Army (AA) reportedly rescued five local residents from Maungdaw who had been unjustly detained by the junta within the Myothugyi battalion. The AA is also said to be providing medical treatment and proper care to surrendered junta troops, ensuring their safety and well-being.
However, the junta continues to carry out intense airstrikes using fighter jets, resulting in explosions within the Myothugyi battalion. According to Maungdaw locals, these airstrikes have caused heavy casualties and injuries among junta troops.
“The ground shakes when the fighter jets drop bombs. We haven’t been able to eat properly. Explosions are constantly heard from inside the Myothugyi battalion, and smoke is visible. All the junta soldiers there are likely to die,” a Maungdaw local told Border News Agency.
According to family members of the Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel, junta soldiers from Battalion 22, including those stationed in the Buthidaung area, along with troops who had fled from Maungdaw District, are among those who have been abandoning their positions. Some BGP personnel from the region are also reported to have deserted.
Despite the junta providing supplies such as food, medicine, and weapons via planes to the battalion, family members of the Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel report that the resources are insufficient due to the large number of junta troops.
On September 27, the Arakan Army (AA) announced that it would continue to intensify its offensive to fully capture the Border Guard Police (BGP) No. 5 sector. Despite ongoing clashes, locals in Maungdaw report that the AA is taking its time to secure the final capture of the sector.
