Naung MinThu, Narinjara News, 10 September 2024

The junta forces launched anotherairstrike on Maungdaw town of Arakan State using two jet fighters at around 3 pm on 9 September. The navy vessels in Ah Lel Than Kyaw sea alsofired artillery shells at the villages.

"The junta is relentlesslybombing Maungdaw with jet fighters. The navy vessels at the mouth of Naf riveralso fired artillery shells over residential areas," said a villager.

Followingthe capture of social welfare relief & resettlement office and Banglamonastery (last two outposts under the 5th border guard policebattalion-NaKhaKha-5) in Maungdaw  by the Arakan Army (AA) on Sundaymorning, the junta soldiers conducted a series of airstrikes.

As only one NaKhaKha-5 battalionremained in Maungdaw,  the AA fighters urged its commander  brigadiergeneral Thurein Tun to raise the white flag and surrender.

“They  cannot defend theNaKhaKha-5 battalion. The battalion is on the verge of collapse. The AAfighters are now surrounding it. The junta soldiers are only conductingairstrikes to protect the battalion, but I don’t think it will be useful” saida military analyst from Maungdaw.

On 9 September  at 5:40 pm, thejunta's navy vessels fired artillery shells on  Kaing Gyi (Arakanese)village that destroyed a modular house.

"The navy vessels in Ah Lel Than Kyaw sea continued firing artillery shellsover the Arakanese village. Though a modular house was destroyed, no casualtieswere reported,” said a resident.

After thejunta threatened to conduct airstrikes on the towns & villages (as reportedin junta-controlled newspapers on 3 September issue),   they carriedout additional airstrikes.

Kaing Gyi(Arakanese) village has more than 90 families, while Kaing Gyi (Mro) villagehas 130 households with a population of about 900. The 3-mile Thi Ho Ayevillage is home to 80 displaced households with a population of over 400.

Photograph:Damage in Kin Chaung village in southern Maungdaw following airstrikes. (Oldfile)