The Arakan Army (AA) set fire to some villages in Yathedaung Township after they retreated from Soemoe mountain fight near Htiswe Village in the township, announced the Tatmadaw True News Information Team on the night of October 13.

The army announced on October 4 that the security forces seized hills near the Htiswe Village as the AA attacked vessels frequently and cut off transportation from the hills which are strategically important for military operations, it said.

The AA attacked the security forces that night using excessive force and the security forces moved to another place to reorganize.

The AA cut off the transportation again after making the hill as their stronghold and the security forces re-seized the hill in the afternoon of October 13. The AA retreated to Kyauktan and Aungthazi villages with many casualties, it said.

Smokes were seen from Kyauktan and Aungthazi villages after the AA retreated to the villages. The security forces had been informed that fire is burning in those villages, it said.

The AA set fire to the villages themselves and they propagandized that it was made by the army. So the army released the true information to prevent people from being deceived by the misinformation, it said.