Airstrikes conducted by the Myanmar junta resulted in the death of at least nine residents in Rakhine State’s Kyauktaw and neighboring Paletwa in southern Chin State on Sunday, the Irrawaddy reported, citing the ethnic Brotherhood Alliance and residents sources.
Kyauktaw town was bombed around 10pm local time, resulting in seven fatalities and severe injuries to nine others. Earlier in the day, an eight-year-old child was among two residents killed when a warplane dropped bombs on Paletwa town.
Kyauktaw and Paletwa recently came under the control of the Arakan Army (AA) in January after intense fighting in northern Rakhine and southern Chin State.
The Brotherhood Alliance, comprising the AA, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), suggests that the junta, having lost major towns and bases in the region, is responding with daily air and artillery strikes on areas now under AA control.
In response to the increased conflict, the military regime has imposed travel restrictions, requiring residents of Rakhine State and Tanintharyi Region to obtain permission from local administrators before flying to other cities in the country.
A notice from the junta’s Transport and Communications Ministry stipulates that residents must have approval from junta-controlled general administration departments in their neighborhoods to fly out of Tanintharyi and Rakhine.
Civil servants in Rakhine State need departmental permission for Yangon-bound flights. Non-compliance with these regulations will result in individuals being barred from boarding flights.
The regime’s blockade on Rakhine State was implemented after the Arakan Army initiated an offensive against the military regime in November last year.