Battle for control of Kyeintali escalates

By Admin 12 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
12 August 2024, Gwa

Fighting between the military and Arakkha Army (AA) is fierce as the ethnic armed group is battling for control of Kyeintali Town in Arakan State’s Gwa Township, according to local residents.

The AA began attacking the police station and junta camps in Kyeintali Town on August 11, and the fighting continued to escalate on Monday.

“The fighting between the military and AA is still intensifying in Kyeintali. The AA continues to seize control of Kyeintali Town. Some homes were set ablaze. The AA by using loudspeakers warned junta soldiers to surrender,” said a resident of Kyeintali.

The regime responded to the AA’s attack with aerial and artillery support, with the military regiments in Gwa firing mortar shells into the scenes of fighting.

Some homes and buildings were reduced to ashes by the junta artillery strikes and some Kyeintali Town residents have been trapped by the fighting, according to social workers.

“Three Myanmar Navy vessels fired mortar shells into Kyeintali Town and some people were trapped by fighting. Some strandees asked for help from us to rescue them. We are currently unable to rescue the strandees, but suggested they hide in safe places,” said a social activist in Gwa Township.

The Kyeintali fighting comes after the AA launched an attack on a junta camp near Chinkwin Village, about 26 miles from Gwa Town, on August 8.

Two junta battalions — Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 562 and 563 — are based in Gwa Town. The regime has planted landmines around Gwa and Kyeintali towns since June, and has also brought in reinforcements from Ayeyarwady Region.