Two policemen stand at a checkpoint at the entrance of Yathae Taung township in Rakhine state on 26 August. The day before, at least 89 people, including a dozen security forces, were killed as Rohingya militants attacked border police. The fighting began in the Rathedaung township , where there had been a buildup of government troops: militants said they were protecting their people from persecution by security forces. In response, state troops launched a huge counter-offensive that has killed hundreds of people