Junta airstrike kill four civilians, injures three others in AA-controlled Paletwa

By Admin 16 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
16 January 2024, Paletwa, Chin State

A junta airstrike on Chin State’s Paletwa town and nearby areas killed four people and injured three others on January 15, one day after the Arakan Army (AA) claimed to have taken control of the entire Paletwa area.

Civilian casualties were reported after bombs dropped by a junta jet fighter landed and exploded near Kyeelay Village in Paletwa Township at about 2 p.m. on January 15, the Three Brotherhood Alliance said in a statement.

The deceased and injured are taking refuge in Kyeelay Village. The deceased have been identified as Maung Myat Thu Aung, 5, from Mee Let Wa Village, U Maung Kyan, 49, U Maung Phyu, and U Zaw Zaw Lwin from Paletwa’s Paloketaung Ward. 

Ma Hsan Hsan Nwe, 8, Daw Nwe Nwe Than, 39, and Ko Aung Hsan Bo, 22, sustained severe injuries to their arms and chests.

The Arakan Army took control of the entire Paletwa area on January 14, the ethnic armed group said in a statement on Sunday; about two months after AA forces began their attacks on regime positions in Chin State’s Paletwa Township and in neighbouring Arakan State.

However, the junta soldiers, who are escaping individually or in small groups, may be armed or unarmed.

The AA has warned the public to be extra cautious and to be careful when travelling because junta soldiers, who are escaping individually or in small groups, may be armed or unarmed.

The AA has announced that they are chasing down the escaping junta soldiers to make people’s lives more secure than they are currently.