By Hafizur Rahman
Kyauktaw, August 16, 2025- The Myanmar military has retaken control of two villages in Kyauktaw Township that were previously held by the Arakan Army (AA), burning down homes soon after establishing their presence.
Heavy Assault and Capture
The operation began on 14 August, with the junta launching a combined assault involving ground forces, airstrikes, naval support, and drone attacks. Fighting continued for two days until noon on 15 August, when AA forces withdrew from Old Liphkama and New Liphkama villages.
Local residents reported that once the military entered, soldiers set fire to homes. “When the military came with full strength, the AA could not resist and pulled back. Then the soldiers burned down the houses. By around 4 p.m., smoke was rising from the villages,” one resident told Rohingya Khobor.
Villages Emptied Before Attack
The two villages together had more than 100 houses, though most residents had already fled due to earlier clashes. Even before the latest military assault, the villages had been repeatedly hit by airstrikes, artillery fire, and drone bombs since the AA’s takeover, leaving many homes already damaged.
Residents said the latest burning has left little intact in Old and New Liphkama, further deepening the destruction in Kyauktaw, where civilians have been caught between months of fighting.
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