Junta's frequent airstrikes on Ann prevent residents to return home

Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 3 January 2025

Ann town in Arakan State, now under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), continues to face airstrikes by the junta forces that put the  local residents in trouble for returning to their places, said a resident.

"Fighter jets are conducting airstrikes regularly. A bomb hit the Thar Li Swa grocery store and damaged the whole shop. Fortunately, no one was injured as the owner had already left the place,” added the resident.

He also informed that at around 4 pm on 1 January, the junta soldiers carried out an airstrike with a fighter jet, which caused Thar Li Swa grocery store in ward number 3 of Ann town to catch fire.

A female resident of Ann shared her struggling time saying, "I would like to return home if possible. As I am fleeing the conflict, it is difficult to find food and shelters. But the threat of airstrikes is still prevalent and so I don’t know when I will be able to return home."

Although the AA has taken control of the entire Ann township, the junta soldiers continue to carry out airstrikes over the locality.

On 31 December, the junta forces conducted airstrikes with a fighter jet over Ann and the surrounding areas of the Western Command. The airstrikes damaged several homes and dormitories.

In addition, the residents reported that they heard the sound of gunfire between the junta soldiers and AA fighters near Taung Sauk Taung camp, located around 4 miles away from Ann.

The AA recently confirmed that it fully captured Ann, which houses the Western Command, at 1:40 pm on 20 December last.

The AA currently controls 15 townships, but it has not allowed the residents to return to urban wards due to the ongoing junta’s airstrikes.