On June 8, witnesses reported spotting more than 20 unidentified, blindfolded corpses in a creek near Aungtaing Village, located close to the junta's battalion headquarters 10 miles west of Sittwe.

During a trip to Bago on Friday, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing called on the Myanmar people to join hands with his regime to enforce the rule of law and public security.

The warning, which went viral on social media on Friday, told the TNLA to "immediately stop fighting and cooperate with China in maintaining peace and stability in northern Shan State and along the China-Myanmar border."

A junta battalion and Myanmar Navy vessels in Sittwe fired mortar shells into some villages in Ponnagyun and Rathedaung townships following the clashes with the AA, the military source added.

International companies, private military arms brokers and commercial airlines have transferred ATR aircraft to the Myanmar military since 2013, JFM said.

Junta blockades imposed since fighting resumed between the Myanmar military and Arakkha Army (AA) mean they cannot bring in raw materials. Some were also displaced by the fighting or junta raids.

A court inside Sittwe Prison sentenced dozens of Byaing Phyu villagers being prosecuted for their alleged ties to the Arakkha Army (AA) to three years in prison and imposed a fine of K500 each on Friday.

While retreating from Maungdaw, meanwhile, junta soldiers destroyed homes and buildings that were once used to defend against AA attacks.

Local residents in Arakan State are suffering from a food crisis and limited employment opportunities amid junta blockades of both roadways and waterways. 

With mobile phone and internet shutdowns and fewer mobile money agents making it difficult to convert donations into cash, there have been delays in helping internally displaced people (IDPs).

At least 50 people were killed in regime artillery attacks and airstrikes across Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Taungup and Thandwe townships in Arakan State this month.

Junta Defence Minister General Tin Aung San and new Chinese ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia met on Wednesday in Naypyidaw to discuss border stability and security, junta media reported.

Ethnically Arakanese people as well as Kokang, Wa and Palaung people cannot travel unless they have letters from relevant police stations and ward administration offices approving their travel.

Buddhist nuns in the Arakan State capital Sittwe are going hungry as they can barely collect alms after many residents fled the town in the shadow of armed conflict, and amid a junta blockade.

Myanmar’s military regime is sending junta soldiers that have retreated from townships seized by the Arakkha Army (AA) in northern Arakan State to Manaung Town, sources told DMG.

The internally displaced people (IDPs) suffer from skin diseases due to unsanitary drinking water, insufficient toilets, crowded living conditions, lack of mosquito nets and accommodation problems.

A military tribunal sentenced Ko Myo Myint Oo to life imprisonment on May 15 and Ko Aung Hsan Oo to 20 years in prison on February 16, Dawei Watch said in a statement on August 27.

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has informed political parties to prepare for the elections in November 2025.

The junta boss reiterated that in his eyes the military takeover in 2021 was in line with the law because of voter fraud in the 2020 general election. Independent observers, however, have said the voting was largely free and fair.