During the fighting in Maungdaw, Rakhine State, weapons and ammunition were allegedly provided to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), with the number of weapons estimated at around 800, according to local residents of Maungdaw.
According to an eyewitness, the weapons were allegedly handed over to ARSA by personnel from the NaKhaKha-5 camp in Maungdaw. The witness also said that the weapons were provided during a period when fighting in the Maungdaw area was particularly intense.
It is also reported that some local residents were required to provide financial support to ARSA, with the amounts ranging from 20 million to 100 million kyats. During the same period, some ARSA members also allegedly made threatening statements against the Rakhine and Hindu communities, according to local sources.
However, detailed information concerning the incident—including the types of weapons, the quantity of ammunition, and the specific period during which the weapons were allegedly provided—has not yet been independently verified by separate sources.
In 2024, during the fighting in Maungdaw and Buthidaung, Rohingya armed groups and the Myanmar military reportedly fought alongside each other, while international organizations and various news sources reported that the military provided training and weapons assistance to Rohingya armed groups.
The claim that around 800 weapons were provided is currently based on statements from Maungdaw residents. Further details about the incident could become clearer if separate confirmation from the relevant parties or additional independent evidence becomes available.Source: Ishara Channel News
