Civilian casualties inflicted by the Myanmar regime’s air and artillery strikes continue to rise in Arakan State as the regime has been targeting residential areas in retaliation for its recent string of military defeats.

A man was seriously injured after stepping on a landmine near a local police battalion in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township on Saturday.

Myanmar junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has again vowed to hold new elections without fail despite having lost large swaths of territory to the armed resistance over the past few months.

A total of 65 junta soldiers were killed and 43 injured in six days of fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) from March 24-29 in Arakan State and Magway Region, according to the AA.

A junta airstrike on Phetkyat Village, part of Arakan State’s Ramree Township, killed a child and injured two others at around 12 noon on March 30.

Ashin Pyinnyarbala, the 57-year-old monk, and U San Tun, a man in his 70s from Thaekan Village, sustained injuries in the junta air attacks.

Five civilians including a teenager were injured by junta artillery strikes in Kanhtaunggyi town, part of Arakan State’s Myebon Township, on Friday. Two of them remain in critical condition, according to residents. 

At least 15 regime soldiers were killed and 15 others were injured in a clash with the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State’s Ann Township, where the military’s Western Command headquarters is based, the ethnic armed group said in a statement.

Fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA) broke out in Myebon town, Arakan State, which is held by the ethnic armed group, on Thursday.

The Arakan Army (AA) has been launching attacks on junta bases and military camps in Maungdaw District, Arakan State, with the regime responding using joint army and air forces.

Myanmar’s much-maligned junta has lost large swaths of territory since a major offensive known as Operation 1027 was launched in late October last year.

Myanmar’s military regime has begun sending Muslim refugees it conscripted from a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, to the front line.

The national conscription law and reserve force law are intended to restore peace and stability in Myanmar; junta boss Min Aung Hlaing told a military parade on Wednesday 

The Arakan Army (AA) seized a junta supply base in Ann Township, Arakan State, where the military’s Western Command headquarters is located, on March 27, according to local people.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) commander-in-chief said that the evil roots of over 60 years of bullying and oppression in Myanmar have been uprooted, urging local people to live together in unity.

The regime said it had seized around 1 billion kyats worth of drugs belonging to the AA on the MV Sein Pyae Min cargo ship at Bayintnaung Jetty in Yangon’s Mayangone Township on March 21.

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has accused some ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) and anti-regime forces of attempting to disrupt the elections.

The regime will be only able to organise Thingyan celebrations in towns that it still has control of, noted residents.

Some 100 junta soldiers from the Tamanthar police outpost in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, surrendered to the Arakan Army (AA) on March 25, the ethnic armed group said in a statement.