AA fights against ARSA in Buthidaung

The Arakan Army (AA) fought against the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)  in Buthidaung township of Rakhine State, where both sides suffered casualties.

Local residents informed that the clash took place in Mayu mountain between Ar Gar Byint and Kyauksathi villages at about 3 pm on 18 July.

 "Yes, there was a fight. It happened on Tuesday night. We came to know that armed cadres of  ARSA and  AA fought each other. Now the situation is normal,” added a resident.

At least ten cadres of ARSA and one member of  AA were killed in the battle, but Narinjara News cannot confirm it.

AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha was also asked but could not find a response from him.

Reached an informal ceasefire with the military junta in November 2022, the AA has  more than 30,000 combat troops. Currently several Rakhine rural areas are its control.

On the other hand, the ARSA is trying to control the areas under Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.

They attacked a number of border police stations and military bases in Maungdaw during 2017. After the attacks, the soldiers conducted a clearance operation in areas under Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships. It resulted on mass exodus of 750000 Muslim people to Bangladesh to escape military atrocities.