Junta airstrike on Arakan Army Karen State base kills six

07 July 2022
Junta airstrike on Arakan Army Karen State base kills six

Six Arakan Army (AA) personnel were killed and others were injured when the junta launched an unexpected airstrike against an AA base on the Myanmar–Thai border in Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade (5) area.

The attack, by two fighter jets, happened at around 12:30 p.m. on 4 July according to a 5 July statement by the AA.

The AA claimed that the junta fighter jets attacked its base from Myanmar airspace before flying into Thai airspace to make their escape.

Khaing Thukha, an AA spokesperson said that told the Rakhine based Western News media that the military council's deliberate attacks would be met with appropriate retaliation.

Since the beginning of this year, there has been tension between the AA and the military council in Rakhine State and Rakhine political observers predict that conflict could erupt at any moment.

The AA members who were killed were: Kyaw Oo Hlaing, age 30, from Rathedaung Township; Nay Zaw Oo, age 29; Bo Thann Kyaw, age 20, from Kyauktaw Township; Zarni Win, age 20, from Myebon Township; and Tun Tun Lin, age 24, from Chin’s Paletwa Township.