People’s Spring
Arakan Army (AA) spokesman U Khaing Thu Kha said that the AA targeted four Military Council helicopters during its offensive to capture Ann Town in Arakan (Rakhine) State, successfully striking one of them.
U Khaing Thu Kha claimed that the AA successfully hit the helicopter around 2:30 p.m. on November 10 during the operation aimed at seizing control of Ann Town, the headquarters of the Military Council’s Western Regional Command.
“On November 10, four Military Council helicopters landed near their regional command headquarters in Ann to deliver weapons, ammunition, food, and reinforcements, as well as to evacuate patients. We targeted these helicopters, and one was hit in the tail, causing damage. While it did not crash immediately and attempted to return to its base, according to the information we received, it failed to reach the base and was forced to make an emergency landing at another location,” he said.
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He added that the helicopter reportedly made an emergency landing near Kyaukhson Village in Ngape Township, Magway Region, which borders Ann Township.
“Although I don’t have all the details yet due to poor phone connections, I can confirm that the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing. I’ll share more information as soon as I learn further details,” a source from Magway Region said.
Some local sources reported that a Mi-17 helicopter flying from Ann made an emergency landing in the monastery compound of Kyaukhson Village around 2:30 pm on November 11, reportedly due to engine failure.
Copatin Zin Ya, who has been reporting on military news since joining the anti-coup Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), also posted on social media that a helicopter evacuating wounded soldiers from the Battle of Ann was struck while flying over the Rakhine Yoma Mountain Range.
In October, reports emerged that the AA had fired at a helicopter carrying Military Council officials departing from the Western Regional Command, though the AA did not comment on the incident. However, the AA confirmed that it had struck a Military Council helicopter on November 10.
Along with the statement, the AA also released a photo of its troops examining the wreckage of a downed Military Council helicopter on February 3, 2024. However, the AA did not specify when the helicopter was shot down.
The AA has not issued any updates since October 7 regarding the ongoing operation to capture Ann Town.
Some analysts suggested that the AA could release an update on the current military situation on November 13, marking the first anniversary of its large-scale military efforts to capture towns in Arakan State.
Over the past year, the AA has captured 14 towns in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State. The AA is also continuing its offensive to capture the townships of Ann, Maungdaw, Taungup, and Gwa in Arakan State.
“Following the military coup, revolutionary forces successfully shot down at least nine military aircraft, including helicopters and jets.”
