Myanmar military, AA vie for control of Pauktaw town

By Admin 22 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
22 November 2023, Sittwe

Fierce fighting was reported in Arakan State’s Pauktaw town on Wednesday as the Arakan Army (AA) carried out an operation to rescue civilians detained by Myanmar’s military regime, according to local residents.

The fighting broke out at 6 a.m. and the two sides were still fighting as of 2 p.m. near Lawka Hteikpan Pagoda, according to a Pauktaw resident.

The AA said on Wednesday that it could rescue over 100 civilians including Buddhist monks, elderly persons, children, and pregnant women held hostage by the regime in Pauktaw town.

The regime carried out three bombing raids with MiG 35 helicopters and jet fighters around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. A jet fighter also strafed at Lawka Hteikpan Pagoda at around 12 noon.

The No. 12 Police Battalion in Sittwe also provided artillery support for junta ground troops in Pauktaw during the fighting.

A resident in Pauktaw Township who witnessed some of the junta strikes said: “Junta aircraft strafed near Lawka Hteikpan Pagoda. And the Navy [ships] also continuously bombarded. There are also artillery strikes from Sittwe. Locals have concerns for their safety. [The regime] fired the whole day.”

The regime bombarded Pauktaw town after the AA seized the main police station in the town on November 16, with the regime subsequently retaking control of the town. The AA is attempting to take back the town.