Fighting moves closer to Thandwe, Ngapali Beach 

By Admin 20 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
20 June 2024, Thandwe

Fighting has been raging near Thandwe Township’s Ngapali Town since Wednesday, with the regime using its navy and air force to defend against the Arakkha Army (AA)’s attacks on junta positions, according to residents.

The fighting broke out on Wednesday between Ngapali Town and Gawt Village northeast of Ngapali — in pre-conflict times considered Myanmar’s premier beach resort destination. Locals told DMG around 4 p.m. on Thursday that the two sides were still fighting.

“They have been fighting every day near Ngapali. The fighting was quite fierce yesterday. Junta warships and aircraft have carried out continuous bombardment,” said a Ngapali resident.

Junta Infantry Battalion No. 55 and Light Infantry Battalion No. 566 and the Maung Shwe Lay naval base are based in Thandwe. Following fighting near Thandwe Airport in early June, the regime has deployed more troops to the airport.

Attacks by the AA that started some 20 miles from Thandwe Town are moving closer after more than two months of fighting.

“Thandwe Town will fall once those battalions are defeated. The regime will do whatever it can to repulse the AA’s attacks,” said a Thandwe resident.

Despite the fighting moving closer to the town, residents trapped in the town can’t flee due to the junta’s travel restrictions.

Fighting since April 13 in Thandwe Township has displaced more than 40,000 people, most of whom need emergency relief supplies.