Narinjara News,  21 May, 2025 

Junta fighter jets have been soaring over Maungdaw township, located on the western border of Rakhine State near Bangladesh and occupied by the Arakan Army (AA), causing alarm among the local populace. 

Local residents report that military fighter jets have been airborne over the northern and southern areas of Maungdaw township and close to the city daily from May 15 to May 20. 

A community elder in Maungdaw stated, “The jets soar over Maungdaw township on a daily basis. They aren't dropping bombs, yet local residents are expressing worries. They soar above at sunrise. They soar above in the evening. They also fly over in the morning.” 

The presence of such aircraft has caused worry among nearby residents, prompting them to encourage one another to remain alert and watchful. 

In March, locals reported that a military council reconnaissance drone surveyed Maungdaw town and nearby regions for four days, flying once each morning, once each night, and twice throughout the day. 

The junta's drone surveillance has also sparked worry among the town's residents. 

The AA fully took control of the whole Maungdaw township, along with the 271-kilometer (168.4-mile) border with Bangladesh, on December 8, 2024, yet the safety of local residents remains in a precarious state. 

Since that time, the junta has been regularly carrying out aerial bombings and drone surveillance in the Maungdaw area, and locals report that many displaced individuals have been unable to go back to their homes. 

On February 28, at approximately midnight, the military council deployed two 500-pound bombs on the old border guard station in northern Maungdaw Township, utilizing a jet fighter. There were no reported injuries during the incident. 

On November 19, 2024, the military junta targeted the school and seven shelters housing displaced individuals in Kyin Chaung village, northern Maungdaw Township, resulting in civilian casualties and injuries. 

On November 2, the military council carried out airstrikes on the village of Pyathar, located five miles north of Maungdaw Township, resulting in the deaths of four displaced individuals in their 60s and injuring two more. 

Similarly, on October 21, at approximately 1am, the military council released 500-pound bombs on the village of Pha Wat Chaung, which is home to over 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), resulting in the death of five individuals, including a pregnant IDP, and injuring 14 more. 

Approximately at 4pm on 7 October, the military council struck Khray Myaing village in southern Maungdaw Township with bombs, resulting in the deaths of two civilians and wounding six more. 

In June 2024, the military council airstriked the Shwe Zar village tract in northern Maungdaw Township, resulting in the deaths of at least five Muslim civilians and injuring several others. 

Despite the military council declaring a ceasefire from May 6 to 31, daily aerial bombings and heavy artillery bombardments have occurred in certain regions, including Rakhine.