Narinjara News, 3 June 2024

The gun fighting is going on in Gawt village near Ma Zin airport of Thandwe township, where the famous Ngapali beach is located, and theYangon- Thandwe flights are temporarily suspended as the junta forces areconducting airstrikes, said local residents.

On the afternoon of 3 June, the intense clash brokeout between the junta forces and Arakan Army (AA) fighters in Gawt village.

"The flights operate only once in a week, but nowit has been temporarily suspended. The battle site is only a mile away from theairport. The ongoing firing is carried out by  multiple launch rocketsystems and artillery shelling. The navy personnel have also joined in thefiring. The local residents are extremely worried over the situation,"said a resident.

The junta forces are primarily targeting the 2-mile-long forest areas betweenGawt and Sin Kyet village. More people are now seeking refuge in (Mya Padonmar)Pao Wun resort and Amara hotel.

"The fighting erupted at the entry point of thevillage that connects Ngapali with Gawt village.  The jet fighters droppedbombs four times, three bombs together, six bombs once, and four bombs twice.The jet fighters were hovering," added the resident.

The Thandwe residents informed that following the outbreak of fierce fighting,the junta forces closed Ma Zin airport and cancelled the 13 May flight.

Since 3 June, the Air KBZ (K7-429) flight, which runsdaily between Thandwe and Yangon, had  suddenly halted operations.

Until the end of May, only one daily flight fromThandwe to Yangon was operated by Air Kanbawza. However in June, the MyanmarAirways resumed services on this route operating their flights once in a week.

The AA fighters and junta forces are now engaged inconflicts near Gawt village, which is a part of Ngapali hotel zone. Thefighting takes place only 1.5 miles away from Ma Zin airport and two miles fromthe 566th infantry battalion.