Myanmar rebels claims= control over major western military headquarters

The regional command at Ann would be the second regional military command to fall to ethnic rebels in five months, and a huge blow to the military

A rebel army in Myanmar said it had captured a major military headquarters in the country's west, marking the fall of the junta's second regional command as it faces mounting setbacks against a nationwide armed resistance movement.

The Arakan Army (AA) said the western military command in Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh, fell on Friday after two weeks of intense fighting, according to a statement posted on Telegram late on Friday.