Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
On May 16, the Arakan Army released 225 individuals from the families of Myanmar junta soldiers, including 130 children and 95 women, who had been captured during the battle for control of Minbra town in Arakan State, western Myanmar.
According to an Arakan News Agency correspondent, this marks the second release of its kind. On April 13, the Arakan Army had previously released 170 family members of junta soldiers captured in the same battle, bringing the total number of released individuals to 395.
The Arakan Army had fully captured Minbra on February 6, 2024, following intense fighting against the ruling Myanmar military forces.
In November 2023, the Arakan Army launched a major military offensive against the Myanmar military in an attempt to seize control of Arakan State. It has since succeeded in taking over large parts of the region.
The conflict has also deeply affected the Rohingya, who have faced violence, forced displacement, and persecution from both sides, after already suffering a campaign of genocide by the Myanmar military in 2017, which forced nearly one million to flee to Bangladesh.
According to field reports, the Arakan Army now controls 14 out of 17 towns in Arakan State, including Minbra. These operations reportedly led to the detention of over 10,000 people, including junta soldiers and their family members.
