Myanmar’s Arakan Army takes a major town, says ready for talks

[ad_1] Myanmar’s Arakan Military insurgents captured the west coast city of Gwa from the army, a significant step towards their purpose of taking the entire of Rakhine state, after which stated they had been prepared for talks with the junta.

Gwa is on the coast within the south of Myanmar’s western-most state, 185 kilometers (115 miles) northwest of the primary metropolis of Yangon, and a gateway to the rice-basket Irrawaddy River delta.

The AA stated their fighters took management of Gwa on Sunday afternoon as junta troops fled however the army was making an attempt to counter-attack with the assistance of its air pressure and navy weapons.

“The combating is raging in some areas close to Gwa. The junta council has despatched reinforcements and so they’re making an attempt to re-enter,” the AA stated in an announcement late on Sunday.

Residents reported blazes from junta artillery and airstrikes.

“Heavy weapons have landed within the city and every thing is on hearth,” stated one resident who declined to be recognized for security causes.

Early on Sunday, a barrage of small-arms hearth was heard because the AA launched their push, adopted by air assaults, the resident stated.

“The small-arms hearth has gone however now they’re bombing,” he informed Radio Free Asia.

The AA stated it believed 700 junta troopers had been killed in weeks of battle for the city, based mostly on our bodies discovered, info from prisoners and paperwork seized. It didn't give any details about casualties on its aspect or about civilian casualties.

It was not doable to independently confirm the AA’s casualty determine and a spokesman for the junta that seized energy in a 2021 coup didn't reply to telephone calls from RFA looking for remark.

All sides in Myanmar play up their victories and their enemies’ losses whereas minimizing their very own in public statements.

The AA, considered one of Myanmar’s strongest rebel teams, has been accused of killings and different severe rights violations towards the principally Muslim Rohingya group. It denies that.