Myanmar Junta Intensifies Rakhine Bombings Amid Lull in Northern Shan

Myanmar’s junta has increased bombardments of civilian targets in Rakhine State, taking advantage of a new ceasefire in northern Shan State, the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) said Friday.

It said the China-brokered ceasefire with the AA-allied Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which came into force on Thursday, allowed the regime to escalate its assaults on military AA positions and civilian targets in Rakhine.

On Thursday alone, junta aircraft, naval vessels, artillery and drones bombed civilian targets in the AA-held townships of Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, and Pauktaw as well as in AA territory in Kyaukphyu and Sittwe, the AA said.