Myanmar Military Launches Airstrikes in Maungdaw

In the quiet of early morning on October 24, 2024, the people of Maungdaw awoke to the sound of artillery fire, as clashes broke out between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Military Council. It started with the AA targeting the headquarters of the Border Guard Forces (No. 5 Battalion), and the Military Council responded with heavy fire.

By 1 AM, the situation escalated as two fighter jets swept across the sky, dropping bombs on areas where AA forces were positioned in both the northern and southern parts of Maungdaw. The strikes were intense, temporarily halting the fighting on the ground. However, they also left devastation in their wake—several homes were set on fire, and families are still trying to come to terms with the damage. While the full extent of the casualties is still unknown, investigators are working to determine how many lives were lost or disrupted by the attack.

Just a few days earlier, on October 21, a Y-12 jet was seen making two rounds of airdrops, delivering weapons and rations to the Border Guard Forces. According to local witnesses, around 30 packages were dropped during this operation, adding more fuel to the ongoing conflict.

As tensions rise, the people of Maungdaw find themselves caught in the middle, enduring the violence and uncertainty of a war that continues to scar their communities.

Rohingya Vision News