Intense fighting has broken out between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council forces in Laymyethna Township, Ayeyarwady Region, resulting in significant casualties on the military council’s side, according to local residents and military sources. The clashes began on March 17 in several villages within the Watkone village tract, including Watkone, Lekhonlay, Lekhongyi, Setsatyo, Chinlay, and Sankone villages. The military council has been transporting their casualties to the crematorium in Oktwinkone village, located along the Pathein-Monywa highway in the Kwinkauk area of Ingapu Township.
Due to the ongoing fighting, thousands of civilians from the Watkone village tract and surrounding areas have been forced to flee to safer locations. The situation has been particularly dire as the military council conducts airstrikes, putting civilian lives and property at grave risk. Military sources confirm that the intense fighting that began on March 17 continues unabated to the present day. The conflict has severely disrupted local life, with the number of displaced persons increasing daily as residents seek refuge from the violence.
The Arakan Army (AA) has been conducting successive offensive operations in Ayeyarwady, Magway, and Bago Regions, all of which share borders with Rakhine State. According to local residents, the fighting has caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and daily life in the region, with the number of people fleeing their homes continuing to rise as the conflict intensifies. The ongoing military operations have created a humanitarian crisis in the area, with displaced civilians facing significant challenges in finding safe shelter and maintaining their livelihoods amid the escalating violence.
