A recent attempt by the Arakan Army (AA) to seize control of Maungdaw Township and the strategically important Myothugyi base, known as Battalion Nakha-Kha (5), has proven unsuccessful, according to local sources. Reports of the AA’s supposed control over the township circulated online but were later contradicted by those on the ground, who confirm the battle did not end in AA’s favor.
The clash, which took place on November 10, saw over five hundred AA fighters advance on Battalion Nakha-Kha (5) with plans to tunnel near the battalion’s fences. Initial moves by the AA included an array of weapon fire and drone usage to press forward. However, government forces detected the AA’s advance and responded fiercely. The AA suffered significant setbacks, with military counter-attacks pushing back some of the AA’s drones, leading to unintentional losses among their own forces.
The intense conflict continued into the night, with reports indicating over a hundred AA fighters were killed. Following the battle, captured weapons—including drones—were transported by helicopter to the nearby town of Buthidaung. Additionally, a military raid targeted a meeting of AA leaders, resulting in further losses for the AA.
Sources from both Maungdaw and Buthidaung confirm that the Arakan Army suffered substantial casualties and now faces a critical shortage of fighters, weakening its stance in the ongoing conflict with the military. In a further complication, armed Rohingya groups, including the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), have reportedly joined the fray against the AA, limiting its escape routes and attempts to retreat toward Bangladesh.
While some AA leaders abroad continue to claim success to maintain morale, local witnesses confirm that the Arakan Army’s mission to capture Battalion Nakha-Kha (5) ultimately failed, leaving the battalion under government control and the AA grappling with heavy losses.
