Clashes between the military junta's troops and AA continue fiercely in the Arakan-Ayeyarwady border area, says AA

(August 5) Mizzima. The Arakan Army (AA) announced on the evening of August 5 that clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military junta's troops are continuing fiercely in the border areas of Rakhine State and Ayeyarwady Region, and the military junta is increasingly using airstrikes and heavy artillery in addition to ground offensives. According to the AA's statement, the military junta's troops are simultaneously launching offensives in areas bordering the Arakan region from Magway, Bago, Ayeyarwady regions, and southern Chin State. Furthermore, the AA stated that the military junta's troops are continuously carrying out airstrikes on civilian-inhabited areas, hospitals, schools, and religious buildings, including the areas bordering Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Thandwe, Gwa, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, and Ponnagyun-Sittwe, which are under AA's control, and shelling from naval warships. The AA stated in its announcement that it is primarily relying on airstrikes because the military junta's troops are suffering casualties in ground battles. Clashes continue in the Arakan-Ayeyarwady border area The Arakan-Ayeyarwady border area is currently one of the main areas where clashes are occurring between the AA and the military junta's troops, and despite heavy rainfall in July, the clashes did not stop and continued, the AA said. It was announced that on August 2, two clashes occurred between the AA and the military junta's troops northwest of Yoppin village in Ye Kyi township, Ayeyarwady Region. The first battle lasted for about two hours, from 11:50 AM to 1:50 PM, and the military junta's troops launched an offensive using drones and ground support fire, the AA said. According to the AA's statement, the military junta's troops suffered casualties in this battle, retreated, and some bodies and ammunition were seized. The second battle began around 3:04 PM, about 3.7 kilometers northwest of Yoppin village, and lasted for over an hour, the AA announced. The AA stated that in this battle as well, the military junta's troops launched an offensive with overwhelming force, but the AA fought back, and the military junta's troops suffered casualties and were forced to retreat. In addition, on August 1, a battle lasting nearly two hours occurred between the AA and the military junta's troops east of Thapaung Kalay village in Thapaung township, Ayeyarwady Region, and some ammunition was seized, the AA announced. AA says offensives are being launched towards Gwa town According to the AA's statement, the military junta's troops based in Pathein are reinforcing their forces and attempting to enter the Arakan region, towards Gwa town. The AA announced that Infantry Regiment (1) and Infantry Regiment (11) under the military junta's 66th Division are participating in these offensives. The AA also stated in its announcement that it commends the members of its forces who are resisting the military junta's offensives. Clashes between the AA and the military junta's troops in Rakhine State intensified again in November 2023, and the AA has declared control over most of Rakhine State. Currently, the Arakan-Ayeyarwady border areas are an important military route for the military junta to re-enter Rakhine State.