The Arakkha Army (AA) has said that it is continuing to attack the regime without stopping the fighting in order to fully realise the goals expected by the people of Arakan.

The AA has captured 11 townships in Arakan State over the past year, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State, since the latest fighting with the Myanmar military began in November 2023.

The AA’s ability to seize crucial locations like Maungdaw and Ann have been major successes, analysts say.

“If the AA can capture the military’s Western Command in Ann and Maungdaw, it will be a great victory and a great support for the liberation of Arakan State. The city of Sittwe is also besieged by the AA. The AA will need to negotiate with China to seize Kyaukphyu,” said U Kyee Myint, a political analyst.

The AA continues to attack the Western Command headquarters in Ann Township and the junta’s No. 5 Military Operations Command in Taungup. AA forces are also closing in on Gwa Town.

The regime has reinforced Gwa with two artillery units and has been regularly bringing in reinforcements from Ayeyarwady Region since the end of November. The regime is fiercely defending its positions in Gwa against an AA offensive with aerial support.

“The regime is sending reinforcements to Gwa in an attempt to prevent the town from being seized by the AA. The regime sends soldiers from Ayeyarwady Region to Gwa Town in military trucks two or three times a week. The military relocated its soldiers downtown out of the town. The regime also built bunkers near the Makyayngu Bridge. Junta armoured vehicles have been deployed in downtown Gwa in recent days,” said a source on the ground.

The military regime currently only has full control over Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung in Arakan State, with the towns of Ann, Taungup and Gwa also in danger of falling into AA hands imminently.

Political and military observers anticipate that if the AA can continue to tally advances on the battlefield, it will likely achieve its goal of liberating Arakan State from the grip of the military regime by sometime next year.