Fierce fighting broke out on Monday between the military and Arakan Army (AA) on the hills about a mile north of Yanaungpyin Village, part of Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, according to local residents.
Mortar shells were fired from regime security checkpoints in Kyeinchaung Village during the hostilities, a resident of Yanaungpyin Village told DMG.
“The fighting began at around 11 a.m. today and we heard the sounds of heavy weapons and small arms fire,” he said. “The military’s security checkpoints in Kyeinchaung Village also fired mortar shells into the hills where the clash erupted. All villagers were trapped as heavy weapons fire landed and exploded near the village.”
There are 140 households and about 500 people in Yanaungpyin Village. Most villagers are trapped in the village, though some residents have managed to flee to safer locations.
Two junta fighter jets unleashed rounds of strafing fire near the village in northern Maungdaw Township on November 12, local residents said.
Regime soldiers entered the village and conducted interrogations of residents later that day, one villager said.
“Junta soldiers entered the village and summoned all men,” he recounted.
“They then interrogated all the men and abducted a local man who was released the next morning. The villagers don’t know where they can flee. The military raided the village two times in the past.”
Two homes in Yanaungpyin Village were burned down by artillery shells fired by the military on November 10, locals said.
“We haven’t received any information about this clash,” Arakan Army spokesman U Khaing Thukha said of Monday’s reported fighting.
“Two homes were reduced to ashes by the artillery shells fired by the military’s security checkpoints in Kyeinchaung Village in recent days. Two
junta fighter jets strafed near the village.”
DMG phoned Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura and regime spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun regarding the matter, but they could not be reached.
Fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army flared anew in August and has continued in the months since, with armed hostilities taking place in several Arakan State townships and in neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township.
