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, Lekhanlae, Lekhangyi, Setsatyo, Chinlae, 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 intensify, 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 present, with ongoing airstrikes putting civilian lives and property at serious risk. The local population faces immediate dangers from the military operations, leading to widespread displacement and humanitarian concerns in the affected areas.
The Arakan Army (AA) has been intensifying its offensive operations, pushing into territories in Ayeyarwady Region, Magway Region, and Bago Region, all of which share borders with Rakhine State, according to AA statements. This escalation in fighting has resulted in severe humanitarian challenges for local residents, who are facing difficulties with basic necessities, forced displacement, and security concerns. The military council continues to impose restrictions on the local population, making it increasingly difficult to deliver humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the conflict. The situation has created a significant humanitarian crisis in the region, with civilians bearing the brunt of the ongoing military operations and resulting violence.
