Intense fighting has broken out between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council forces in Laymyethna Township, Ayeyarwady Region, with reports of 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 suffered heavy casualties, with bodies being transported to the crematorium in Oaktwinkone village near the Pathein-Monywa highway in Ingapu Township for cremation.
The fighting continues to be intense, 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. Military sources report that 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 conflict, including the threat of aerial bombardment and ground fighting.
The Arakan Army (AA) has been conducting continuous offensive operations in Ayeyarwady, Magway, and Bago Regions, which border Rakhine State, according to AA statements. The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted civilian daily life, causing significant hardships in terms of basic necessities, healthcare access, and educational opportunities for local residents. The situation has created a humanitarian crisis in the area, with displaced civilians facing challenges in securing food, shelter, and essential services. The conflict continues to escalate, with both sides engaged in intense combat operations, while civilian casualties and displacement numbers continue to rise in the affected areas.
