Locations of Myanmar troops and AA fighting near Aung Thar Zay village today

AN. Sittway. July 16, 2020,

 

Myanmar army is attacking Arakan Army positions in the hill between near Aung Thar Zay village and injuring 4 civilians in Kyauk Tan village in Rathedaung township, Rakhine State 9 am today. 

 

The fighting has lasted 7 hours and ended at 4 pm.  Military helicopters supported firing missiles into the AA position at 2 pm for 20 minutes.

 

Artilleries are firing to the hill from different locations of Myanmar military bases from Htee Swea, Yae Soe Chaung, and Rathedaung for more than 300 rounds. 

 

A villager from Kyauk Tan village said, “300 Myanmar troops supported by helicopter gunships and artilleries attack AA positions in the hill near Aung Thar Zay village. Countless rounds of artilleries and helicopter’s missiles are firing directly to the hill and to Kyauk Tan village. 

 

The hill local people call Pyin Taung is located about 250 yards toward the east of Aung Thar Zay village and believe AA has defense lines before the higher mountain range after the hill.

 

Three hundred Myanmar troops are attacking the AA positions from the southwest and northwest and marching from Htee Swea and Yae Poke villages.

 

AA is vigorously defending the hill. The troop casualties from both sides are not yet known, but local people predict the fighting will be escalating tomorrow. 

 

Local residents from Kyauk Tan initially report 4 civilians including a woman are injured by the shells landing near the village. More news of civilian casualties can be reported tomorrow.

 

The village women Daw Kyew Ye, 35, is critically injured and her leg is completely cut off. U Kyaw Tan, Maung Hla Kyaw, and one more villagers are hit by the shell explosions.

 

The villagers tell our news the injured villagers are stuck in the village because the artilleries are still firing and difficult to transport the wounded men and woman to Rathedaung. 

 

AA Spokesperson said he has not got the report yet of Myanmar troop casualties.