Fighting expands in Kyaukphyu, army column ambushed and bombed in Sane town

Fighting has reignited between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State, with the front line expanding in at least three locations, it is known. After fighting broke out in May near Sane town and the Taung Maw naval base in Kyaukphyu Township, the original fighting areas had somewhat calmed down, but since July 29, the fighting has expanded to the vicinity of Min Pyin, Ray Na Tan, and Zai Chaung villages. "There have been a few small contact battles in the Min Pyin area in recent days. In previous days, every military column that went out on reconnaissance or area clearance was hit by snipers. Now, both sides are firing back," a local resident told the Irrawaddy Times. Furthermore, it is known from regional sources that on July 30, a military column stationed in Awa Taw village near the Taung Maw naval base crossed into AA territory and was ambushed. In the Min Pyin and Zai Chaung areas, a contact battle also occurred on July 29 between a military column of over 100 troops and the AA, and as a follow-up, the military carried out airstrikes on Sane town around 6 PM on August 1. Currently, in Kyaukphyu Township, fighting has restarted in the areas where fighting originally occurred, and the military is gathering forces and attempting to infiltrate AA-controlled territories, leading to extremely high military tension. Photo: AA Info Desk (old photo)