Locals report ongoing clashes between the Arakha Army (AA) and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) near Mee Taik village in the northern part of Maungdaw Township – a border area in western Arakan State controlled by the AA – as the AA continues its clearance operations against the Rohingya armed group.
Local sources say these skirmishes broke out after the ARSA members entered the area near Mee Taik village, with engagements occurring from 14 to 18 February.
A resident of Mee Taik village said: “AA has been clearing out ARSA members who entered near the border posts around Mee Taik village. Clashes broke out with the ARSA terrorist group. Yesterday, three AA reinforcement vehicles arrived. Even before the fighting started, we heard gunfire every day. The clashes have been going on for about four days now.”
Regarding this incident, Narinjara has reached out to AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha for comment but has not received a response. Meawhile, the AA continues its clearance operations around Mee Taik village, according to local residents.
According to residents of Ban Du La (also known as Baw Du Lar) in northern Maungdaw, Muslim armed groups—ARSA, Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA), and Rohingya Islami Mahaaz (Arakan)—have united to form a new coalition and are conducting military training along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
“On the Bangladesh side, a new Muslim armed group is receiving special military training. We, in the northernmost part of Maungdaw near Baw Du (also called Ban Du La), hear the sounds of gunfire training every day,” a local resident said.
There have also been reports that, to defend against potential attacks by armed terrorist groups in the Maungdaw area, the AA has been recruiting people from villages in northern Maungdaw and providing them with 45-day training courses.
Sent by Narinjara.