Three people including two children were injured when a monastery was hit by a junta rocket in Arakan State’s Minbya Township on Monday.

The Arakan Army (AA) ambushed two Myanmar Navy vessels near Hkaunglaung Village at around 11 a.m. on Monday. Following the attack, helicopters escorting the vessels opened fire near the village.

“Villagers were hiding in the village monastery as the junta helicopters fired shots. The monastery was struck by a rocket and people were injured,” said a resident.

A 23-year-old woman, a 5-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy suffered minor injuries and received treatment at the village clinic.

Three junta helicopters attacked some places purported to be AA bases near Thetpone, Pale Pauk and Chaung Shae villages in Minbya Township, said residents.

“At first, a Navy ship and an aircraft came together. Once they arrived near Thetpone, the aircraft fired shots at mountains near the village. Then two more aircraft came and fired shots. Villagers either hid in bomb shelters or fled the village,” said a resident.

Another resident of Thetpone village said: “The AA also returned shots. Some of the rockets fired by aircraft landed in our village. We fled out of fear, and we don’t know the extent of the damage.”

A 7-year-old in Nagara Village, Kyauktaw Township, was killed by a junta artillery strike on Sunday evening.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun.