The junta has fortified five of its positions in Gwa Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State with extra heavy artillery so that it can defend the township against an expected Arakan Army (AA) attack.
In early August 2024, extra artillery was set up at Ta Dar Htate Hill near Kywe Chai Village, and at the Police Station Hill in Kularpyin (a.k.a. Yadanarmyaing) Village, in Gwa Township.
In the second week of August extra heavy artillery were sent to three other Gwa Township junta positions: Mintaung Pagoda Hill, west of the junta’s 563rd Light Infantry Battalion(LIB) base, just outside Gwa Town near the road to Ngathaingchaung; Shwe Nang Khaing Pagoda Hill, just outside the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 562 near the road from Gwa Town to Kyeintali Town; and Yay Myint Hill near to Kanthaya Village.
The artillery and the soldiers to operate it came from junta artillery units stationed in Ayeyarwady Region, according to a Gwa Town resident.
They said: “The main artillery unit is stationed in the Ayeyarwady Region. They have been assigned and deployed here. The idea is to preemptively defend against potential attacks from the Arakan Army (AA). The Military Council seems to believe that the AA might come along that route [where the junta has set up extra artillery], so they are preparing to defend against it.”
After the extra artillery had been set up at the five positions two rounds of heavy artillery fire were heard by Gwa Town residents at about 11:00 am on 18 August.
Another Gwa Town resident said: “Yesterday, we heard two rounds of heavy artillery fire. There hadn’t been any firing before, and the heavy artillery had only recently been set up in Gwa Township. From their positions, they can cover the entire town. The sound of firing has made us quite concerned.”
After losing control of Kyeintali Town, also in Gwa Township, the junta deployed troops in areas between Kyeintali and Gwa towns, including villages such as Kyaukpazat, Kularpyin, KineKhon, Satthwar, Kywechaung, Taingkyo, as well as Mawshwechai and Kanthaya beaches.
There has already been heavy fighting in the Arakan State townships of Maungdaw in northern Arakan and Thandwe in central Arakan, but now the conflict zone has expanded to also include Gwa Township at the southern most tip of Arakan State.
Many displaced residents from Thandwe and Gwa townships have sought shelter in Ayeyarwady Region and other areas.
