Junta soldiers retreat from Kyeintali amid AA attacks

By Admin 14 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
14 August 2024, Gwa

Dozens of junta soldiers have retreated from Kyeintali in Arakan State’s Gwa Township amid an Arakkha Army (AA) offensive targeting the town, according to local residents.

Junta soldiers have been stationed at the police station and offices for the General Administration Department (GAD), municipality and Electricity Supply Enterprise in Kyeintali, and fighting between the military and AA has been fierce since Sunday evening.

“The sounds of heavy weapons and small arms fire have been heard since August 11. The fighting between the military and AA halted in Kyeintali yesterday evening. Junta soldiers reportedly withdrew from Kyeintali,” said a local resident.

Regime soldiers retreating from Kyeintali Town have reportedly been stationed in Kalarpyin Village on the Kyeintali-Gwa road south of the town. The regime has sent reinforcements to Kalarpyin Village from its Gwa-based battalions and fighting between the two sides is reportedly ongoing.

Civilian properties were destroyed and civilian casualties were reported due to regime airstrikes on Kyeintali, according to social activists.

“Local people are not allowed to enter Kyeintali. Several homes and buildings were reduced to ashes by the regime air assaults during the battle for control of Kyeintali. Civilian casualties were also reported, but I don’t know exact details,” said a social activist.

DMG continues to attempt to contact the spokesmen for the junta and AA respectively regarding the fight for control of Kyeintali Town.

Thousands of locals in Kyeintali were displaced by the hostilities and residents from Kalarpyin, Kaingkhon and Gantgawtaung villages were also forced to flee junta raids.

Meanwhile, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) from Thandwe Township who are currently taking refuge in Gwa Township continues to rise and those displaced are in need of emergency food supplies, according to social activists.

Thousands of residents from Kyeintali Town and nearby villages have fled to Ngathainggyaung Township in Ayeyarwady Region, and some have been arrested by the regime under the pretext of checking overnight guest lists.