Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 12 March 2025 

Kun Taung Village and Ponnagyun Town in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, were hit by airstrikes and shelling from Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), leading to the destruction of numerous houses. 

Ponnagyun Town, situated 20 miles away from the state capital Sittwe, is presently managed by the Arakan Army (AA). 

A male inhabitant of Ponnagyun informed Narinjara News that two homes were demolished when military forces carried out airstrikes using a fighter jet on Kun Taung Village at approximately 1:00 pm on March 11. 

“A fighter jet released an explosive, believed to be a 500-pound bomb. Two buildings fell down," he stated. 

During the 2024 battle for Ponnagyun Town, residents of Kun Taung Village were evacuated, resulting in no casualties from this attack. 

Kun Taung Village, situated on the Sittwe-Yangon highway, comprises over 700 households. 

A different local inhabitant informed Narinjara News that at approximately noon on March 11, the 232nd Infantry Battalion of Par Da Leik, based in Sittwe Township, fired MLRS at Ponnagyun Town, causing damage to multiple houses. 

"The town and U Rit Taw Pagoda are located on the same side; therefore, the shell also fell at the base of U Rit Taw Pagoda. Some homes in the town were also damaged," he stated. 

The Arakan Army (AA) completely took control of Ponnagyun Township on March 4, 2024. 

While combat has ceased on the fringes of Sittwe, junta forces persist in launching artillery shells and airstrikes at Sittwe and Ponnagyun Townships, believing that AA troops are nearby. 

On March 6, at approximately 7:00 am, junta troops used drones to bomb Wah Bo village in Sittwe Township, igniting multiple houses. 

Inhabitants of Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, and Pauktaw townships, along with Sittwe and surrounding villages, are still unable to go back to their residences. They continue to flee because of the ongoing indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery bombardments by junta troops.