The Myanmar military used an attack helicopter to conduct air strikes during fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) in a rural area of conflict-ridden northern Rakhine’s Buthidaung Township on Thursday, according to local residents and the AA.
According to the AA’s battle update on Wednesday, a Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) helicopter conducted bombardment and machine-gun strikes against AA rebels twice in the afternoon near Buthidaung’s Kan Pyin village after a Tatmadaw infantry unit sustained heavy losses in the area.
The AA said it was the second time the Myanmar military had conducted a major air attack in the north of Rakhine since June 23.
The village is situated more than 1o kilometers south of downtown Buthidaung.