Myanmar Junta Suffers Heavy Losses in Ngapyi Island Landing Operations Near Sittwe
Myanmar’s military junta is continuing efforts to land troops on Ngapyi Island in Rakhine State’s Pauktaw Township despite suffering heavy casualties, according to local military sources.
Ngapyi Island occupies a strategic position at the mouth of the Kaladan River, just east of Sittwe.
Most regime troops who managed to reach the shore during initial landing attempts have been killed, wounded, or captured by the Arakan Army (AA).
The other troops surrendered after running out of supplies between Oct. 23 and 25, frontline sources said.
A source close to the AA reported that around 50 junta soldiers were killed on the first day of the operation alone.
Heavy casualties during subsequent landing attempts have forced the regime to slow its combined army, navy, and air offensive.
"Although aircraft continue to bomb areas around Ngapyi Island, troop landing attempts by naval vessels have stopped," a resident said. "Junta soldiers stranded on the island are hiding in fish and shrimp ponds without supplies, and their capture appears imminent."
The junta launched its initial amphibious assault on Oct. 7 using Y-12 utility aircraft, more than 10 fighter jets, and five warships. A second landing attempt after Oct. 17 also failed amid heavy losses.
The AA has now surrounded junta bases and the Regional Operations Command (ROC) headquarters in regime-controlled Sittwe after capturing several surrounding defensive outposts.
Comments