According to local military sources, fighting has resumed between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council forces in Thabaung Township, Ayeyarwady Region. The clashes began on the morning of February 27 around Anankon, Khweikut, and Thabaung Lay villages in Thabaung Township. While previous fighting in January had ceased and the area experienced a brief period of calm in early February, hostilities have now reignited. The earlier conflicts that started in January had stopped on February 3rd before this latest round of fighting broke out.
The Arakan Army’s allied forces are reportedly conducting operations with significant troop numbers, while the military council is responding with aircraft and paratroopers. The AA allied forces are also attacking the military council’s Artillery Battalion 344 and security outposts located on the border between Thabaung and Yegyi townships. Of the three paramotors from the military council’s Infantry Battalion 36 in Kyonpyaw District, two flew toward the Thabaung battle zone while one headed toward Yegyi Township. Local military sources confirmed that injured military council soldiers are being transported to hospitals in Yegyi and Pathein. Unlike the January battles which saw continuous fighting throughout the day, the current clashes are occurring intermittently.
During a battle near Kyarkaung village in Thabaung Township on January 28, the Thabaung town police station chief Win Naing Oo was killed by sniper fire from AA allied forces. The AA’s allied forces have been expanding their operations toward Thabaung and Yegyi townships after capturing the Magyizin area on the border of Gwa town and Ayeyarwady. These ongoing military operations represent a significant expansion of the AA’s territorial control and influence in the region, as they continue to challenge the military council’s authority in various parts of Myanmar.
