A significant development in Myanmar’s ongoing conflict unfolded on Friday when the Arakan Army (AA), a rebel group, announced the capture of a major military headquarters in Rakhine state, located along the country’s western border with Bangladesh. This marks the fall of the second regional military command as Myanmar’s military junta continues to face increasing challenges from a nationwide armed resistance movement.

According to the Arakan Army, the western military command in Rakhine fell after two weeks of intense fighting. A statement released late Friday night confirmed the victory, though a spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government could not be reached for comment.

Since the military coup in early 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in turmoil. The ousting of the civilian government triggered widespread protests, which quickly evolved into armed resistance against the junta. The Arakan Army, which is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance—a coalition of anti-junta forces—has played a pivotal role in these confrontations.

In October 2023, the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched a major offensive, achieving several key victories, particularly along Myanmar’s border with China. In August, the alliance made history by seizing the northeastern town of Lashio, marking the first-ever capture of a regional military command by rebel forces.

Rakhine, a coastal province along the Bay of Bengal, remains one of Myanmar’s poorest regions despite its offshore natural gas reserves and the planned Kyauk Pyu economic zone, which is crucial for oil and gas pipelines to China. Tensions in Rakhine reignited last November when a ceasefire between the Arakan Army and the junta collapsed, leading to a series of successful offensives by the rebel forces.

Rakhine is also home to Myanmar’s mainly Muslim Rohingya community, which has been the target of violent crackdowns by the military in recent years. Some Rohingya activists have accused the Arakan Army of targeting their community during its offensives in northern Rakhine. This has reportedly forced tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees to flee to neighboring Bangladesh for safety. However, the Arakan Army has denied these allegations, maintaining that their operations are focused on military targets rather than ethnic communities.

As Myanmar's resistance movement continues to grow, the Arakan Army's latest victory underscores the mounting pressure on the military junta, which is grappling with widespread opposition across the country.