Myanmar junta warships fire nearly 90 artillery rounds in Gwa, injuring 6 locals including child

Six civilians, including a five-year-old child, were injured along the coast of Gwa Township, southern Rakhine State, during Myanmar junta naval bombardments targeting residential areas, the Arakan Army (AA) announced on 8 July. Four junta warships fired approximately 87 heavy naval gun shells. From 7:04 am to 12:45 pm on 8 July, the vessels patrolled and bombarded relentlessly and arbitrarily along the Gwa coast and the adjacent Bawmi coast in Ayeyarwady Region. The AA identified the injured victims from Ward (3), Kyeintali Town, Gwa Township as Daw Ma Htar, 45, Daw Than May, 74, Ma Yadanar Htun, 5, U Nyo Htun, 48, Ma Thin Thiri Htun, 17, and Daw Mi Wine, 50. Confronting consecutive losses of military bases and outposts near the Rakhine-Ayeyarwady border, the junta has escalated air strikes and naval bombardments targeting non-military civilian areas in Gwa Township, the statement noted. Additionally, on 7 July, two junta jet fighters conducted two airstrikes on Gwa Township at approximately 10:00 pm and 11:30 pm. The AA released documentary photos showing civilian casualties and damaged residential structures resulting from the naval gun attacks.