RAKHINE STATE – There is fierce fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the terrorist junta forces for the town of Gwa and the junta forces are retreating into Ayeyarwaddy Division, according to the Arakan Army.
Out of the four towns that were simultaneously attacked by AA, only Gwa remains to be captured and it is said that the junta council is suffering heavy defeats and losing bases every day in Gwa while AA is strengthening its attacks in order to capture the town.
Although the junta council has been sending reinforcements to Gwa from various locations including Yangon Division and Ayeyarwaddy Division, there is no cohesion among the junta forces that are mainly formed by forcibly conscripted soldiers and as the junta forces suffer defeat and run away from the battles in disarray, it is almost certain that Gwa, the southernmost town in Rakhine State, will be captured by AA in the coming days.
Meanwhile, junta forces are also torching villages and homes and detonating bridges as they retreat to Ayeyarwaddy Division and the AA forces are fiercely pursuing and attacking them, resulting in fierce fighting every day.
It is said that the junta forces torched and destroyed Alal Village in Gwa Township on December 17 and 18, and houses near the base of junta light infantry 563 on December 21, and a large number of civilian houses were destroyed as a result.
AA stated that it has recorded the war crimes of the junta council and warned that the perpetrators as well as the officers who gave out the orders to commit those atrocities will be punished accordingly when captured.
