Fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar’s military has intensified along the border of Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships in Rakhine State, with the AA claiming fresh territorial gains and clashes reported close to key military positions.

The Arakan Army says it has retaken several villages on the western bank of the Kaladan River in southern Ponnagyun, including Rei Yoke Pyin, Aung May Kone and Khamoung Taw. The areas had previously been used as military positions, according to local reports.

Heavy fighting is now reported around Min Chaung Bridge, near the two townships’ boundary, as well as around Kyama Thauk, Taw Kan and other areas near Gangaung Kyun village in Sittwe Township. Clashes have also been reported near the Shwe Min Gan jetty. The Sittwe Regional Command, one of the military’s key positions in the area, is located about 2.5 miles north of the fighting.

According to Myanmar Now, the conflict has intensified in recent days, with the military continuing to use artillery and airstrikes in several parts of Rakhine State. Reports of civilian casualties have also emerged from areas affected by the fighting.

The AA said it had repelled a military assault launched from the direction of Min Chaung Bridge, one of the main routes into Ponnagyun. The group claimed that several military personnel were captured as prisoners of war during the fighting and that weapons and ammunition were seized. The AA released photographs and videos related to the operation on September 20.

The latest clashes highlight the strategic importance of the area. Control of the routes around Ponnagyun and the Kaladan River could affect military movements toward Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, where the junta maintains major military installations.

The fighting comes as the Myanmar military continues counteroffensive operations after suffering major territorial losses following Operation 1027, launched by an alliance of ethnic armed groups in late 2023.

The military has increasingly relied on air power, artillery and drones in its counteroffensives. Local sources have also reported increased use of drones in and around Ponnagyun as the military seeks to strike AA positions before launching or supporting ground operations.

The reported escalation around Sittwe and Ponnagyun adds another pressure point to the wider conflict in Rakhine, where the AA has expanded its control over large areas while the military retains strategically important urban and military positions.

BOB Post