By: Hafizur Rahman, Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State – February 21, 2025
Fierce fighting has erupted in northern Maungdaw as the Arakan Army (AA) launched military operations against the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) following reports that ARSA has seized former border guard camps. According to sources at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, between 300 and 400 ARSA fighters have occupied multiple old border guard posts along a 40 to 45-mile stretch since February 14. In response, AA forces initiated a counterattack on February 18, leading to ongoing intense clashes.
Local residents describe hearing heavy gunfire and explosions as the two groups engage in relentless battles. Neither AA nor ARSA has yet issued an official statement regarding the current situation, and ARSA has remained silent on social media, where it usually provides updates on its activities.
Concerns are mounting over the growing presence of armed groups in Maungdaw. Leaked photographs of ARSA members carrying sophisticated weapons have led border sources to speculate that Myanmar’s military may be covertly supplying arms to the group.
This conflict follows a deadly incident on December 24, 2024, when ARSA fighters ambushed a civilian vehicle traveling between Kyein Chaung and Taung Pyo, resulting in the death of a female humanitarian worker and leaving the local community in fear.
Additionally, reports indicate that several armed Rohingya groups—including the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), Arakan Rohingya Alliance (ARA), and Rohingya Islami Mahaz (RIM)—have formed an alliance known as the “Four Brothers Alliance.” Allegedly led by Dil Mohammad, a figure believed to have ties to Myanmar’s military junta, this alliance adds another layer of complexity to the conflict.
As the situation escalates, local residents fear further instability, with thousands already displaced amid the ongoing clashes.
Source: AEN
