Military airstrikes on 3 townships in Rakhine on Martyrs' Day kill 5 civilians, injure 27 including monks

Ayeyarwaddy Times July 20 The Arakan Army (AA) has announced that the interim government military launched continuous airstrikes on Maei, Thandwe, and Ponnagyun townships in Rakhine State yesterday, Martyrs' Day, July 19, killing five civilians and injuring 27 others, including monks and children. Yesterday, July 19, at approximately 11:30 AM, the military dropped three 300-pound bombs from a jet fighter on wards 2 and 3 of Maei town in Taungup Township, killing five civilians and injuring 22 residents, including a monk and children. Additionally, one Christian church and over 20 houses were damaged. Similarly, at around 4:00 PM, jet fighters bombed and fired machine guns into Thandwe town for nearly half an hour, five times, injuring four civilians and damaging some houses. Furthermore, at 6:30 PM, two 300-pound bombs were dropped and attacked near Tautpauk village and the Yebauk Chaung confluence in Ponnagyun Township, injuring two monks and one civilian, according to the AA statement. The interim government military conducted airstrikes on three townships in Rakhine State on Martyrs' Day yesterday, resulting in a total of five civilian deaths and 27 injuries, including three monks. The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) announced that such attacks raise questions about the consistency between words and actions regarding the peace invitations and meetings within the current 100-day period, and that they will respond to the interim government military's offensives in collaboration with allied organizations and the public. Photo: AA Info Desk