Military sources from the region have confirmed that fighting has resumed between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council forces in Thabaung Township, Ayeyarwady Region. The clashes began on the morning of February 27 around Anan Kone, Khwe Kut, and Thabaung Lay villages in Thabaung Township. While previous fighting had occurred in January before temporarily subsiding in early February, hostilities have now reignited. The earlier round of conflicts, which started in January, had ceased on February 3 before this latest resumption of fighting.
The Arakan Army’s allied forces are reportedly conducting operations with significant troop numbers, while the military council is responding with aircraft and paratroopers. The AA’s allied forces are also attacking the military council’s Artillery Battalion 344 and security outposts along the border of Thabaung and Yegyi townships. Three Paramotor aircraft from the military council’s Light Infantry Battalion 36 in Kyonpyaw Township were deployed, with two heading to the Thabaung conflict zone and one toward Yegyi Township. Local military sources report that injured military council soldiers are being transported to hospitals in Yegyi and Pathein, and unlike the January battles, the current fighting occurs intermittently rather than continuously throughout the day.
During earlier fighting near Kyar Gaung village in Thabaung Township on January 28, the Thabaung police station chief Win Naing Oo was killed by sniper fire from AA allied forces. The Arakan Army’s allied forces have continued their military operations toward Thabaung and Yegyi townships after capturing the Magyizin area along the border of Gwa town and the Ayeyarwady region. This latest round of fighting represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between resistance forces and the military council in the region.
