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 intensify, with the military council conducting airstrikes, forcing thousands of civilians from the Watkone village tract and surrounding areas to flee to safety. Military sources report that the battles have remained fierce since March 17 until today, with ongoing aerial bombardments putting civilian lives and property at serious risk. The local population faces immediate dangers from the conflict, with many having to abandon their homes and livelihoods to seek refuge in safer areas.
The Arakan Army (AA) has been intensifying its offensive operations, pushing into Ayeyarwady, Magway, and Bago Regions, which border Rakhine State, according to AA statements. The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted daily life for local residents, who are now facing significant challenges related to basic necessities, healthcare access, and education. The situation has created a humanitarian crisis in the area, with displaced civilians struggling to meet their basic needs while living in temporary shelters away from their homes. The conflict continues to escalate, with no immediate signs of resolution, leaving the local population in an increasingly precarious situation.
