Ground sources report that the Myanmar military junta's aerial bombardments and the military activities of Muslim armed groups, including ARSA, RSO, and ARA, have been taking place simultaneously in Maungdaw District, Rakhine State.
Since the last week of June, these Muslim armed groups have reportedly been crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border and transporting and stockpiling supplies on a daily basis along the Naf River and in the Mayu mountain range.
At the same time, the military junta has intensified its airstrikes targeting local civilian populations.
According to residents of Maungdaw, while the Arakan Army (AA) has been stepping up area-clearance operations to ensure border security and stability, the military junta has been using Y-12 transport aircraft and jet fighters to carry out coordinated bombing attacks on villages inhabited by civilians.
On June 25, two Grade 12 female students were injured in a junta airstrike. Later, on the morning of July 1, another bombing attack in Buthidaung Township injured three civilians, including two Muslim children, and damaged several homes.
Similarly, on the night of July 1, the military junta launched another airstrike around Maungdaw town. On July 2, between approximately 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., the junta again attacked civilians near Kyein Chaung village in Maungdaw Township using one Y-12 aircraft and two jet fighters.
During the same period as these airstrikes, ARSA, RSO, and ARA reportedly increased their military activities in villages including Mee Taik, Thinbaw Hla, Done Nyo, and Taung Pyo, as well as throughout the Mayu mountain range in Maungdaw Township.
Furthermore, during the battle for Border Guard Police Battalion No. 5 (Na Kha Kha 5) in Maungdaw, the military junta had previously fought alongside these Muslim armed groups against the Arakan Army (AA).In that battle, large numbers of junta troops and members of ARSA, RSO, and ARA were reportedly killed, while the AA seized a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition.
Analysts believe that these latest activities may indicate coordinated efforts between the military junta and the extremist groups aimed at countering the Arakan Army's territorial control.
