Residents of Kyaukphyu, one of the last towns in Rakhine State still under junta control, reported a massive explosion late Monday night amid renewed clashes between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA).
“At about 7pm last night, a huge blast shook the entire town. It was quite close. Then we heard another explosion at around 2am,” a man living in the town told Myanmar Now on Tuesday.
Fighting near the major port town has increased in recent days, as residents report seeing more naval vessels patrolling just off the coast. The junta has reportedly been carrying out airstrikes and artillery and drone attacks in the area since the latest clashes began.
Kyaukphyu is one of just three towns in the state that remain under the control of Myanmar’s military. The others are the state capital Sittwe and Munaung, located on an island south of Kyaukphyu.
Although the. . .
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