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On Friday, a significant military establishment in western Myanmar fell into the hands of ethnic minority rebels after months of conflict, according to the insurgent group. This marks a new significant defeat for the military junta that took control in 2021.

The Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic rebel force, announced they had successfully seized the entire Western Command headquarters of the military located in Ann town, Rakhine state.

“We successfully took over the entire headquarters around noon,” said AA spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha in a conversation with Radio Free Asia.

While details about casualties remained undisclosed, Khaing Thu Kha revealed that two high-ranking officers, Brig. Gen. Thaung Tun and Gen. Kyaw Kyaw Thant, were taken prisoner. Soldiers from the junta who managed to escape were actively pursued, he added.

A representative from the military was not immediately available to comment.

Earlier on Wednesday, the AA released drone footage showing the devastated military base, with ruined buildings and smoke rising from burning fires. The video also displayed numerous captured men, hands bound, marching in surrender under white flags.

The AA, one of the most formidable insurgent groups in Myanmar, is waging a battle for self-determination in the western-most state.

In the last year, the group has made historic strides, taking control of 13 out of 17 townships in the state and pushing the military into a few isolated territories.

Local residents this week reported that the junta is frantically bolstering its forces in three out of the five remaining townships under its control – Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Munaung – to fend off anticipated AA assaults.

Kyaukphyu holds significant strategic value for the junta as China is developing a port and energy facilities there, including oil and gas pipelines that stretch across Myanmar to Yunnan province.

The junta installed a new defense minister, Gen. Maung Maung Aye, on Tuesday. While no reasons were provided for the change, it follows a string of military losses not just in Rakhine state but across the nation.

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Conflict in Chin state

In a separate development, rebel forces in Chin state, north of Rakhine state, have made major inroads, seizing large sections of two key towns, including one near the Indian border, a rebel group reported on Friday.

Conflict in Chin state since the military takeover in 2021 has driven thousands of villagers, primarily Christians, into India. This influx has reportedly exacerbated communal tensions in India.

In the latest battles, the Chin Defense Force rebel group and allied fighters have successfully captured military and police bases, administrative offices, and other key buildings in the towns of Mindat and Falam, the group announced in a statement.

The group reported that 123 junta soldiers had surrendered in Mindat and 45 had surrendered in Falam, located about 106 miles to the north.

Falam is approximately 25 miles from the Indian border.

Efforts to reach Chin state’s junta spokesperson, Aung Cho, were unsuccessful.

A local from Mindat reported that junta forces were still resisting in some areas and the military was conducting air strikes. A junta blockade aimed at cutting supply lines to the rebels had made life extremely difficult, said the local, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

“We’ve had so much trouble, food has become scarce. It’s become difficult to buy even a little rice so now we grow it on the mountain,” the resident said.

A Chin human rights worker warned that the military was likely to retaliate against the rebels’ advances.

“When ethnic rebels win victories like this … they bomb, shoot and launch heavy weapons at schools, religious buildings and hospitals,” said Salai Man Hre Lian, managing officer of the Chin Human Rights Organization, in an interview with RFA.

Translation by Kiana Duncan. Editing by RFA Staff.