An artillery exchanges occurred between Junta and AA (the military council troops and the Arakan Army) in Sittwe, Rakhine State.

From August 28 until yesterday, August 29, clashes between the military council and the AA took place in Wabo Village and A Myint Kyun Village in Sittwe Township.

It is reported that the clashes occurred because the military council’s jet and naval vessels were stationed near Shwe Mingan Port, close to A Myint Kyun and Wabo Village, where the AA had imposed blockades, and the military council troops arrived in those areas.

It is reported that the navy stationed between A Myint Kyun and Mauk Se Kyun crossed over into AA-controlled areas, leading to exchanges of gunfire. The navy positioned near Wabo Village also fired. They were using heavy artillery. Since this is the first time gunfire has been heard in Sittwe, everyone is alarmed. The distance is only about four miles from the town,” said a local resident of Sittwe to Irrawaddy Times.

The shooting started around 8 p.m. on August 28 and continued until 3 a.m. the next day, with both sides exchanging fire. By 4 p.m. on August 29, both heavy artillery and drone bombs were reportedly used.

Due to the clashes, artillery shells fell and exploded in Yazathein, Mauk Se Kyun, and Sar Pyin Gyi villages, leading to casualties and deaths, according to reports.

The AA announced on July 7 that it had encircled and blockaded most of the areas controlled by the military council, including the Sittwe Regional Operations Command Headquarters (ROC-Sittwe), and there have been calls from the Sittwe ROC to lay down arms.

It is reported that on June 9, the military council relocated residents from 12 villages in Sittwe Township to Sittwe town and is preparing to build military bases in some of these villages.

On August 10, the military council also erected fences and implemented certain defenses along the Sittwe coastline.