Myanmar’s military regime has stepped up its air raids in Arakan State’s Pauktaw Township, which is controlled by the Arakkha Army (AA), inflicting additional civilian casualties.

Cash is running low in Arakan State’s Thandwe Township as local bank branches have closed since earlier this month amid escalating hostilities between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakkha Army (AA).

The military regime abducted about 200 residents from Mingan Ward in Arakan State’s Sittwe Town on Sunday. They have been held incommunicado since, according to residents.

Fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakkha Army (AA) has reportedly been ongoing near Zaingchaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, since 7 a.m. on Monday.

Hundreds of local people from at least 10 villages in Taungup Township, Arakan State, have been displaced by recent fighting in the area.

The AA has captured almost all the junta camps in Maungdaw Township and has surrounded and cut off the remaining camps in and around the town of Maungdaw.

Clashes between the military and AA displaced thousands of local people in Thandwe Township with IDPs taking refuge at monasteries and schools.

Myanmar’s military regime has forced thousands of residents from 12 Arakanese villages in Sittwe Township to move to Sittwe Town, its seat of administration in Arakan State.

The regime carried out airstrikes on Mee Chaung Htoo, Maungkan and Kintaung villages, where locals are increasingly worried about their safety.

Myanmar’s military regime has reportedly issued arrest warrants for 20 local men from Maungdaw, Arakan State, on suspicion of providing food and funds to the Arakan Army (AA).

“The regime sent reinforcements to Taungup in Arakan State via Padaung Township in Bago Region. This is the reason why the AA blocks the road section,” the source explained.

The military regime committed 46 massacres in the four months from January through April, reported Nyan Lin Thit Analytica, an independent research group monitoring Myanmar’s political situation.

Myanmar’s military regime has destroyed seven bridges in Arakan State’s Maungdaw and Ann townships over the past few days amid escalating hostilities.

At least 10 junta soldiers were killed when a Myanmar military drone attack reportedly targeted its own troops in error during hostilities near Thandwe Airport in Thandwe Town, Arakan State, on Thursday.

The Arakkha Army (AA) has said that respective ethnic groups and tribes have been assigned to carry out administrative and rehabilitation activities in the areas controlled by the ethnic armed group.

The regime has tightened security, and reinforced troops and weapons since early this month. Taungup residents have reported spotting hundreds of Muslim conscripts among the ranks of junta battalions in Taungup.

The AA simultaneously launched attacks on the military’s Tawhein tactical command base near Kazukaing Village along with some military camps and Point 299 near Shaukchon Village on June 12.

The 5th Military Operations Command, Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 544 and 346 are based in Taungup. Residents have reported seeing Muslim conscripts at those battalions since earlier this month.

With conflict zones expanding across the country, the space for civilians to flee the fighting has increasingly shrunk, said a weekly analysis report from Burma News International-Myanmar (BNI-Myanmar).