Villagers in areas of western Myanmar’s Rakhine state said Thursday that government army soldiers are detaining civilians they accuse of supporting Rakhine rebels amid fighting between the Arakan Army and Myanmar troops, RFA reported.

Clashes between the AA and government army have occurred in Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Buthidaung and Paletwa townships throughout December.

Government soldiers launched an offensive against AA troops with heavy weaponry and helicopters in Paletwa township on Wednesday and in Rathedaung’s Kru Chaung village on Thursday, AA spokesman Khine Thukha told RFA’s Myanmar Service.