AA-military clashes escalate as junta contingent retreats from Gwa Twsp village

By Admin 05 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
5 October 2024, Gwa

Junta soldiers deployed in Kalarpyin Village near Kyeintali Town, part of Arakan State's Gwa Township, withdrew from the village on October 4, according to a military source.

Junta soldiers retreated from Kalarpyin Village after suffering heavy casualties in a clash with the Arakkha Army (AA) along the Gantgaw mountain range on Friday.

"Yesterday's fighting was fierce. Several junta soldiers were killed or injured in a clash with the AA. Junta soldiers retreated from Kalarpyin Village to Kyaychaing Beach," said the military source.

Hostilities between the military and AA have been intense near Kalarpyin Village since October 2, with the military's Gwa-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 562 firing mortar shells into the scene of the fighting.

Kalarpyin Village is located about 7 miles from Kyeintali Town and 20 miles from the town of Gwa. Fighting between the military and AA first began in Gwa Township on August 8 and the ethnic armed group seized control of Kyeintali Town five days later.

Thousands of local people from Gwa Tonwnship's Kalarpyin, Khaingkhon, Thabyuchaung, Gantgawtaung and Yaykyaw villages were displaced by regime airstrikes and artillery attacks.

"Internally displaced people (IDPs) from some villages along the Gantgaw mountain range are facing livelihood hardships. Relief groups are unable to visit those villages. We cannot contact people from those villages," said a resident of Gwa.

Local people in Gwa Township are facing food shortages due to a junta ban on the transportation of food and medicines since August 10.

Since renewed fighting began on November 13, the AA has so far seized control of 10 towns in Arakan State and Paletwa in neighbouring Chin State, and clashes between the military and AA continue to escalate in Gwa, as well as Arakan State's Maungdaw and Ann townships.