The battle for Rakhine State’s Thandwe town is almost over as the Arakan Army (AA) has captured almost all of the town near Myanmar’s premier beach, Ngapali, according to sources close to the ethnic army and residents of the town.
Rakhine media is reporting that the ethnic army is focused on rescuing civilians trapped in the town, while residents who have fled the town say that groups of AA troops can be seen in many areas of the town.
“AA troops have arrived in many parts of the town,” a resident who fled the town told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. “I heard AA troops allowed people to leave in groups of five yesterday … but they have not yet allowed people to return to the town.”
Fighting between AA and junta troops is still raging in Jeiktaw, Linthar and Myapyin wards along the southern stretch of Ngapali Beach about 8 kilometers from Thandwe, residents said.
They say the AA controls about 80 percent of the seven-kilometer beach and that fighting has been intense near its southern tip for weeks.
A resident of Jeiktaw ward said on Wednesday: “I heard many junta soldiers were killed in Linthar, and the two sides clashed in Myapyin yesterday. I saw about 10 junta soldiers in Jeiktaw market. Their necks and legs were bandaged.”
Civilian casualties in Ngapali and Thandwe are rising as the regime bombs the beach and the town areas from air and sea.
The AA has seized Thandwe Airport, near the northern tip of Ngapali Beach, and the bases of Light Infantry Battalion 566 and Infantry Battalion 55, but junta troops have gathered in Jeiktaw ward.
Rakhine media is reporting that displaced residents of Thandwe town are in urgent need of shelter and food.
