Rakhine State, where the current military situation is tense, Rakhine Army AA said that there are around 10,000 military council soldiers in one Maungdaw township. At the fifth press conference of ULA/AA held today on September 19, spokesperson U Khaing Thukha added this in response to a question asked by a reporter. There are more than 6,000 border guards in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. U Khaing Thukha said that the forces withdrawn from the brigades have also arrived in Maungdaw Township.
“There are more than 6,000 border guards in Maungdaw and Buthidaung areas. In addition, there are 10 battalions under the 15th Army. In addition, the additional forces (77th) and other divisions have also been withdrawn. If we add up all the forces withdrawn by those brigades, the enemy force in Maungdaw Township is more than (9,000). In total, it can be estimated between (9,000) and (10,000),” he said.
From last July to September, the military council army and the Rakhine army AA have been fighting fiercely in Maungdaw township, and it has been announced that many military council army camps have been captured by the AA. On September 10th, the Rakhine Army announced that they captured a camp hill of the Khmer (352nd) Battalion, a camp in the northern part of Maungdaw Township, and on August 30th, they captured a camp near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border (40) miles away.
Many weapons and munitions were seized during these camp battles. The deaths and captures of several military council soldiers were also announced. Last September 16, a 15-year-old boy from Bangladesh on the other side of the border was killed and at least 6 others were injured due to a mortar shell fired by the Military Council. The Myanmar-Bangladesh side of the border has been hit by artillery shells fired by the Myanmar side at the Bangladesh side since August, and because of these issues, the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Myanmar ambassador 4 times and warned them.
Reporter : Johnsmith
