Residents of Thandwe Township in Arakan State told DVB that one civilian was killed and five others, including two children, were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on Nyaungpinzay Ward on Saturday. Thandwe is located 584 miles (939 km) south of the Arakan State capital Sittwe.
“Thandwe is quite calm without clashes. And it’s been a long time since we’ve suffered any airstrikes,” a Thandwe resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. At least two homes were destroyed after two 500-pound (226 kg) bombs were reportedly dropped by a fighter jet.
Thandwe was seized by the Arakan Army (AA) on July 16, 2024, after it took control of the Myanmar Navy’s Maung Shwe Lay base. One civilian was killed and six others were seriously injured by airstrikes on two wards in Thandwe in December, 2024.
A monastery was destroyed by a 500-pound (226 kg) bomb in Taungup on Friday. No casualties were reported. It was the first time airstrikes have struck Taungup since it was seized by the AA in December 2024.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Sept. 14 that the elections will not be held in Arakan’s Ramree, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Myebon and Mrauk-U townships.
The AA has seized control of 14 out of Arakan’s 17 total townships. It also seized Paletwa in southern Chin State.
Thandwe is one of the 63 townships that placed a martial law by the regime on July 30. Khaing Thukha, the AA spokesperson, said the armed group rejects any regime elections being held in territory under its control. Naypyidaw designated the AA as a “terrorist” group in 2024.
