The Arakan Army (AA) attacked a border post and a nearby junta army camp in Rathedaung Township, northern Rakhine State, at 5:00 a.m. on 13 November.
Locals reported that the AA had attacked the Changkalli and Donepike border guard posts and the junta army camp on the Angumaw to Maungdaw highway.
A local woman said: “I heard that the AA is taking control of Changkalli and Donepike camps. We could also hear heavy weapons being fired from Rathedaung.”
Locals also said that the junta army had fired at least 10 missiles into the areas where there was fighting.
"Infantry battalion 537 from Rathedaung is providing assistance by firing heavy weapons. They have just fired a total of ten shots," said a Rathedaung resident at about 8:30 a.m. on 13 November.
The attacks by the AA marked the opening of a second front in Rakhine State on 13 November, 17 days after the Operation 1027 offensive was launched against the junta on 27 October in northern Shan State by the Three Brotherhood Alliance.
The groups in the Three Brotherhood Alliance fighting the junta are the Kokang Myanmar Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA). They are being helped by their allies the Bama Peoples Liberation Army (BPLA), the reformed Communist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MNDF).
They have already seized dozens of junta military camps in northern Shan State.
Following the launch of the AA’s Rakhine State offensive and further fighting in Rakhine State between the junta and the AA, on 13 November junta troops blocked all the major roads in Rakhine State connecting cities to each other.
Locals say travelling has become a challenge.
A man who worked for a highway bus company said: “A car traveling from Yangon to Thandwe was turned back when it got halfway. Those heading to Thandwe had to stop at the halfway point and were instructed to return when the road reopens. Currently, all routes are closed, and it's challenging for vehicles to leave Rakhine.”
Junta forces have also blocked roads going to Rakhine State. these include, amongst others, the Sittwe to Yangon Highway, the Taungup to Yangon Highway, and the Gwa to Ngathainggyaung Highway.
