An ethnic armed group in western Myanmar has reportedly captured hundreds of Myanmar military soldiers after taking control of a major command post near the border with Bangladesh.
In a video statement posted on the Telegram messaging app, the Arakan Army (AA) claimed that soldiers from the headquarters of the 15th Military Operations Command (MOC-15) in Rakhine State surrendered to their forces.
The video released by the AA showed several hundred captives, some in military uniforms, others injured, walking in a line across a field and muddy road, most of them barefoot. It also showed what appeared to be AA soldiers armed with rifles guarding a large group of men in an open field.
The video’s captions stated that it showed the deputy commander of the MOC-15, his soldiers, and their families after a “final assault in which [junta] soldiers faced total defeat and surrendered.”
In a separate statement, the AA said that they captured the MOC-15 headquarters on May 2 after a 12-day siege, seizing weapons, ammunition, military equipment, and prisoners of war.
The AA’s video reportedly showed members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, who have been subject to severe repression over recent years.
Myanmar’s military has reportedly started drafting Rohingya men into its ranks, further escalating ethnic and sectarian tensions in western Myanmar.
The fall of the MOC-15 headquarters would be a significant setback for the military administration that seized power in a coup in 2021. It follows a series of military losses in Rakhine State where the AA has been advancing since a ceasefire collapsed last November.
The AA has gained control over several townships in Rakhine State and neighboring Chin State, leading to fierce battles with the junta for control over strategic areas.
If confirmed, the capture of the MOC-15 HQ would weaken the junta’s grip on key townships near the Bangladesh border and potentially allow the AA to redirect its forces to other strategic locations.
The loss of the MOC-15 headquarters is significant politically and strategically, as it would mark the third headquarters lost by the regime, impacting the military’s rapid response capabilities.