Military regime bombs Taungup Twsp villages

By Admin 15 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
15 June 2024, Taungup

A junta jet fighter reportedly bombed some villages in southern Arakan State’s Taungup Township, where military tensions between the regime and Arakkha Army (AA) are running high, at around 1 p.m. on June 15 without there being any fighting in the area.

The regime carried out airstrikes on Mee Chaung Htoo, Maungkan and Kintaung villages, where locals are increasingly worried about their safety.

“A junta jet fighter dropped bombs on three villages. Some homes in downtown Taungup were shaken by the junta airstrike. No casualties were reported in the junta air attack and no one dared to go outside,” said a resident of Taungup at around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

DMG continues to investigate the extent of damages resulting from the junta airstrikes.

The 5th Military Operations Command in Taungup fired mortar shells at the Ann-Maei-Taungup road along the Arakan mountains on Saturday morning.

The regime has tightened security, and reinforced its troops and weapons, since early this month. Taungup residents have reported spotting hundreds of Muslim conscripts among the ranks of junta battalions in Taungup.

“Locals are afraid of possible fighting. Armed Muslim conscripts have arrived in Taungup. Some people fled to safer locations. Mobile phone lines have been cut off,” said another Taungup resident.

The Myanmar military’s Infantry Battalion No. 55, Light Infantry Battalion No. 566 and Artillery Battalion Nos. 375 and 346 are based in Thandwe Township. Locals have had difficulties fleeing to safer locations due to junta blockades of both land and water routes in the area.

The AA attacked a junta convoy between Mote and Baryay villages in Taungup Township with remote-controlled mines in December 2023. There have been no armed hostilities in the township between the warring parties since then.