The people of Arakan say that the Myanmar junta is conducting airstrikes to destroy cities that are likely to be lost due to the Arakan Army’s (AA) final assault operations.
The local people report that the Myanmar junta has been carrying out intense airstrikes on Maungdaw, Ann, Taunggoke, and Gwa towns, causing houses, markets, and buildings to catch fire.
According to ground military sources and local residents from Taunggoke, the Myanmar junta carried out an airstrike on the Nya Zay (evening market) in the Kan Paing quarter of Taunggoke on November 25, which is under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), causing it to be destroyed by fire.
A local resident from Taunggoke told Border News Agency that the junta came in with jets, and as a result, some shops and houses in the town caught fire. The extent of the damage is significant, but it’s difficult to provide an exact estimate of how much has been destroyed.
The Arakan Army announced on November 13 that Maungdaw, Ann, Taunggoke, and Gwa towns are nearing the final stages of being captured, and fierce battles are continuing in those areas.
As a result, the Myanmar junta has been carrying out intense airstrikes, leading to casualties among civilians and internally displaced people, with some being injured or killed, according to the people of Arakan.
Residents of Gwa Township report that on November 24, the Myanmar junta carried out an airstrike in King Pon village, causing some houses, including a monastery, to be destroyed by fire.
A local resident from Gwa told Border News Agency, “The Myanmar junta jets are dropping bombs every day. Fires and destruction are happening daily. They are targeting every battle zone, and damage is widespread in every village. Now, they have conducted joint operations involving ground, navy, and air forces.”
In addition, the people of Arakan report that the Myanmar junta is also conducting airstrikes to destroy military camps and urban areas in Maungdaw, which are already under the control of the Arakan Army, as well as targeting Ann township, where the Myanmar junta’s western military command is located.
Mr. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, stated on November 22 at the UN General Assembly that the military regime is targeting and destroying areas controlled by revolutionary groups.
On November 18, the Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Office (HDCO) of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government announced that, in the decisive battles in Arakan, the Myanmar junta intentionally targeted and destroyed civilian areas. This includes around 6,500 houses, including 21 markets.
