20 junta soldiers killed after Y-12 aircraft hit wrong target near NaKhaKha-5 in Maungdaw

 Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 3 October 2024

The junta soldiers, in an attempt to prevent the fall of 5th border guard police battalion (NaKhaKha-5) in Maungdaw of Arakan State,  launched airstrikes near the battalion but they mistakenly hit the wrong target killing 20 colleagues.

On 30 September between 12 and 2 pm, they conducted airstrikes with Y-12 aircraft and targeted office buildings in Maungdaw  and areas surrounding NaKhaKha-5.

During the airstrikes, the junta soldiers mistakenly struck an outpost occupied by their own people near NaKhaKha-5.

The Arakan Army (AA) has surrounded and shelled the junta's last remaining NaKhaKha-5 base in Maungdaw district. The junta's air force has been providing continuous support to ground forces by conducting airstrikes with fighter jets and the Y-12 aircraft.

The junta soldiers carried out seven airstrikes with fighter jets around Maungdaw from 10 pm on 1 October to  3 am on 2 October.

"I couldn't sleep during the whole night because of anxieties," said a female resident.

The battle for NaKhaKha-5, where the AA fighters are launching attacks, reached its most intense phase and hence the junta soldiers stated conducting relentless airstrikes.

NaKhaKha-5 is currently facing a shortage of food and weapons. As there is no independent confirmation of 20 soldiers’ casualty in the incident, Narinjara News can not authenticate it independently.