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RAKHINE STATE – It is reported that the junta council troops had detonated Minchaung Bridge near the junta battalions at the entrance of Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State.
The bridge was detonated once on February 9 evening and again on February 12 morning to ensure that it is completely destroyed, according to Sittwe residents.
“It was detonated on February 9 and cannot be used anymore. The residents of the villages near Sittwe have to cross that bridge to go into the city and vend their wares such as vegetables. Now, it’s detonated and can’t be used anymore. It was detonated again this morning (February 12). It’s completely destroyed,” said one resident.
A local observer commented that the junta council must have detonated Minchaung Bridge, intending to block off all land routes to Sittwe to ensure that the Arakan Army (AA) won’t be able to launch an offensive on Sittwe as the junta regime has been losing numerous battalions and cities in northern Rakhine.
“It looks like the junta council did that so Sittwe cannot be attacked by road (land). There are junta battalion bases near that bridge as well. As the surrounding is full of rivers and creeks, the junta council must have detonated the bridge thinking it will be an obstacle to AA when attacking Sittwe. The junta forces are scared out of their wits wondering when AA will attack Sittwe,” said the local.
Similarly when the junta air force bombed Kyauktaw Township on February 11 night, they targeted the Kisipanadi Bridge crossing the Kaladan River near Kyauktaw Town.
The attack destroyed over ten feet of the pedestrian footpath in the middle of the bridge and also weakened the bridge so that it is now difficult for cars to cross it.
The junta council, unable to defend against the offensives of AA, has been struggling to defend using all army, navy and air forces and is destroying roads, bridges and road networks of strategic importance.