By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw, July 13, 2025
Armed members of the Arakan Army (AA) carried out a sweeping operation in Paungzar and Piainfyu villages of Maungdaw Township on Saturday morning, citing unverified claims that unidentified individuals had crossed the border into the area.
The raid began at approximately 4 in the morning and lasted until 10. Around 50 AA soldiers surrounded the two Rohingya villages and conducted house-to-house searches. Locals reported that shops, streets, and homes were thoroughly inspected, though no arrests were made.
“They arrived before sunrise. Most of us were still asleep when they entered,” said a resident from Piainfyu village. “They questioned people one by one and warned us to report any outsiders immediately.”
One of the soldiers allegedly told villagers that the search was based on information suggesting that people had recently crossed over from the Bangladesh side. However, no evidence has been provided to support this claim, and local sources say the accusation may be part of a broader pattern of intimidation.
Ongoing Military Attacks Compound Fear
The Arakan Army’s operation comes on the heels of renewed military aggression by Myanmar’s armed forces. On Friday afternoon, a fighter jet dropped two heavy bombs—each estimated to weigh 500 pounds—on the northern part of Maungdaw Township. Around two hours later, three artillery shells were fired by the Myanmar Navy near the Kyauk Pandu area in the south.
Access to both sites remains restricted, and the extent of casualties or destruction is still unknown.
Later that night, another military aircraft was spotted circling the area shortly after midnight, though no additional bombs were dropped. The overflights triggered panic among Rohingya families already traumatized by ongoing violence and displacement.
Prisoners Recaptured by AA
Separately, two Myanmar military policemen who had escaped from Maungdaw prison during earlier fighting were reportedly recaptured by the Arakan Army near Thin Taung Pyin village in neighboring Buthidaung Township on July 10. The two had escaped on July 8, according to local sources.
A Community Trapped in Fear
The combination of airstrikes, artillery fire, village raids, and the presence of multiple armed actors has left the Rohingya population in Maungdaw living in constant fear. With movement restrictions already in place, and frequent accusations of harboring armed groups, residents worry that even fabricated claims could lead to forced displacements or worse.
“We are being treated as if we are the enemy, even though we are just trying to survive,” said a Rohingya elder. “Neither side protects us. Both sides use us.”
As the conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army intensifies, Rohingya civilians remain trapped in the middle, facing systemic abuse, restrictions on movement, and the continued threat of violence.
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