Some Junta soldiers from the 566th Light Infantry Battalion, based in Ngapali town in Thandwe township in Rakhine State, along with their family members, surrendered to the Arakha Army (AA), while the remaining forces joined Junta’s other military unit, the 55th Infantry Battalion, a military source told Narinjara.
After AA, used loudspeakers, asking them to either surrender peacefully, or face combat, some troops and families of the 566th Light Infantry Battalion opted to surrender.
"Some troops of the 566th Light Infantry Battalion and their families surrendered to AA. The surrender did not include the entire battalion, as some joined up with the 55th Infantry Battalion. It is currently unknown whether there are officers among those who surrendered or what ranks are involved”, the military source he said.
"Around 3:00 pm the Junta deployed Y-12 aircraft to bomb the vicinity of Mazin Airport and AA troops in the 566th Light Infantry Battalion compound. Meanwhile, Navy ships fired artillery almost continuously targeting the combat zone”, a Ngapali resident reported.
The fighting remained intense as AA continued its vigorous attacks against the Junta troops who had merged with the 55th Infantry Battalion, while the Junta also conducted airstrikes to counter AA's advance.
