A battle between the Arakan Army (AA) members andjunta forces broke out today in urban areas of Pauk Taw township, a few mileseast of Rakhine State’s capital Sittwe.

“There is a battlegoing on right now after noon. The junta forces haveused a helicopter and attacked the AA members from air," said a localresident at around 1:30 pm on Tuesday.

The gun fighting started at around 12 noon and thesoldiers continuously fired over the town area.

"The junta’sairplane was shooting over the town. We are worried about the local peoplewho are trapped in various parts," a lady resident added.

A local source claimed that both the armed groupsexchanged fire and the fighting was intense. The fighting is intense, he added.

On the night of 15 November, the AA members attackedPauk Taw police station. Later they captured it. Nextmorning, the junta forces targeted the town with a helicopter. The soldiersthen regained control over the city.

On the 5th day ofbattles, the AA attacked junta troops, stationed in Pauk Taw locality.