Clashes between Myanmar military council forces and the Arakan Army (AA) have intensified in recent days along areas bordering Rakhine State and Ayeyarwady Region, the AA said in a statement issued yesterday.
On August 12 alone, fighting broke out near Point 101 in Yay Kyi Township and near Thapyaung Kyi Village in Thabaung Township, with clashes reportedly continuing throughout most of the day at five separate locations.
According to the statement, troops from Infantry Battalion 101 under Military Council Division 66, advancing from Thabaung Township, clashed with AA forces about 1,000 meters east of Thapyaung Kyi Village from 6:53 a.m. to 9:53 a.m.
During the fighting, the Military Council launched an offensive using airstrikes, drones and ground-based artillery support. However, AA forces reportedly resisted the advance, forcing the Military Council troops to withdraw after suffering casualties.
In addition, AA forces clashed with Infantry Battalions 1 and 11, also under Division 66, which were advancing from Yay Kyi Township. The fighting took place about 373 meters south of Point 101 Hill, lasting from 7:00 a.m. until 2:39 p.m.
Another clash occurred about 1.13 kilometers southwest of Point 101 Hill from 9:24 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. The AA said fighting also broke out at two other nearby locations after Military Council forces launched further offensives.
The Military Council reportedly deployed fighter jets, Y-12 aircraft, drones and ground artillery to support its offensives and spread its forces across the area.
The AA said it recovered bodies and some weapons and ammunition from Military Council forces during the clashes, but did not provide an exact figure for military casualties.
The Rakhine–Ayeyarwady border area is one of the key fronts from which the Military Council has been attempting to advance into Rakhine State, with military tensions continuing to rise across the region.
