Ethnic armed groups fighting to restore civilian rule in Myanmar have claimed new territory in the country’s northwest near the border with India, amid an escalating offensive against the military regime.
According to international media reports, fighters in Chin state reportedly took control of two military outposts on the border of India’s Mizoram state after hours-long battles on Monday.
The advance follows successes in neighbouring Rakhine state and northern Shan state in a coordinated offensive launched two weeks ago by anti-coup forces.
Myanmar was plunged into crisis when Senior General Min Aung Hlaing seized power in a coup in 2021, leading to mass protests that evolved into armed resistance when the military used force to crack down on its civilian opponents.
About 80 fighters mounted attacks on Rihkhawdar and Khawmawi military camps in Chin state in the early hours of Monday, eventually taking control of both outposts after several hours of fighting, Chin National Front (CNF) Vice Chairman Sui Khar told reporters.
The CNF will now look to consolidate its control along the India-Myanmar border, where the Myanmar military has two more camps, he said.
“We’ll move forward,” Sui Khar said. “Our tactic is from the village to the town to the capital.”
Social media posts said a nighttime curfew had been imposed in Sittwe, Rakhine’s capital, with some reports of tanks on the streets.
