The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked Arakan Army (AA) military camps and guard posts in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, near the Bangladesh border.
AA camps and outposts in Taungpyoletwea Town, Maungdaw Township, near the Bangladesh border, came under a large-scale ARSA attack on August 10 and 11.
“Yes, the reports of clashes are accurate. ARSA attacked AA camps around Taungpyoletwea with overwhelming force,” a Taungpyoletwea resident told DMG.
DMG reached out to AA spokesperson U Khaing Thu Kha regarding the aftermath of the attacks on AA camps and the current security situation in the area, but has not yet received a response.
A border source reported that the AA is carrying out clearance operations in the area and that shootouts are occurring frequently.
The AA put up strong resistance against the ARSA attack, but suffered casualties among its fighters, according to locals.
“The AA suffered casualties after ARSA deployed hundreds of troops in the attack. We’re still checking on the remaining details,” another Maungdaw Township resident said.
Bangladeshi news outlet bdnews24 also reported that an AA member fled to the Ukhiya and Palongkhali border in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on August 11, carrying an AK-47 assault rifle, 52 rounds of ammunition, and two magazines.
The fleeing AA member told Bangladesh border guards that about 300 other AA troops had also fled and could enter Bangladeshi territory at any time. However, U Khaing Thu Kha denied that the individual who fled to Bangladesh was an AA fighter.
“He’s not one of ours. In fact, he’s just a Bangladeshi national from the Daingnet ethnic group who used to visit our office in the area. He took advantage of our trust, grabbed a small weapon, some ammo, and a phone, and then ran off, that’s it,” he said.
Although AA controls the entire Maungdaw Township, its troops are frequently ambushed by ARSA, who have also carried out targeted killings and abductions of civilians.
Border communities, including those in Maungdaw Township, are also facing security concerns due to ARSA’s cross-border activities from Bangladesh into Arakan State.
