Intense fighting has broken out between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council forces in Laymyethna Township, Ayeyarwady Region, with military sources and local residents reporting significant casualties on the military council’s side. 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 suffered heavy casualties, with bodies being transported to the crematorium at Oaktwinkone village near the Pathein-Monywa highway in Ingapu Township for cremation.
The fighting continues to be intense at present, with the military council conducting airstrikes in the area. As a result, thousands of civilians from the Watkone village tract and surrounding villages have been forced to flee to safer locations. According to military sources, the battles have remained fierce since March 17 until today, with ongoing airstrikes putting civilian lives and property at serious risk. The local population faces immediate dangers from the military operations, and many have had to abandon their homes and livelihoods to seek safety.
The Arakan Army (AA) has been conducting continuous offensive operations in Ayeyarwady, Magway, and Bago Regions, which share borders with Rakhine State, according to AA statements. The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted daily life for local residents, bringing agricultural activities and businesses to a halt, leading to significant economic hardships. Displaced civilians are in urgent need of emergency assistance, including food, drinking water, medicine, and shelter, according to local sources. The situation has created a humanitarian crisis in the area, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict’s impact on their lives and livelihoods.
