Fighting erupts in Sittwe outskirts as junta launches airstrikes
The residents of Sittwe reported to Narinjara News that along withthe junta's airstrikes, sound of small arms firing was heard at theoutskirts of Sittwe, the capital city of Arakan State.
According to the residents, at around 8:30 pm on 26 October, ajunta fighter jet dropped two bombs. Sound of small arms firing came fromthe Par Da Leik battalion and Shwe Min Gan area.
“After I heard the sound of an explosion, I could hear the soundof a moving fighter jet. Two bombs were dropped. The first one shook my house,”said a local resident.
He indicated that the fighting took place at Min Hla villageat the outskirts of Sittwe.
“The sound may have come from Min Hla village, where the previousfighting took place. It could be from the area around the village betweenSittwe and Ponnagyun locality. After the fighter jet dropped the bombs, weheard the sound of gunfire for about 10 minutes,” he added.
Despite the rising military tension between the Arakan Army (AA)and the junta forces in Sittwe, the fighting is yet to be erupted. But thesudden sound of gunfire caused panic among the residents.
Earlier, gun fighting between the junta soldiers and AA fightersbroke out on 29 August near Min Hla village, which is located in the north ofSittwe.
AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha informed that more than 30 bodiesof junta soldiers were recovered along with 50 weapons after the fighting.
The AA announced its intention to attack and capture Sittweprompting the junta soldiers to make massive preparations to counter theiroffensive.
Donate