Battle for Sittwe flares up as AA advances from Ponnagyun

Fighting between the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army (AA) has flared up this month on the border of Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships in Rakhine State as both sides seek to push the other back and cement control in the area, one of the regime’s last strongholds in the state. The junta’s offensive to break into northern Ponnagyun Township began on September 4 with drone attacks from near the Minn Chaung bridge which connects the townships. However, the AA have so far blocked the regime from advancing beyond the bridge. The Minn Chaung bridge, locally known as Ah Myint Kyun bridge, is the only route between the two townships. The AA subsequently conducted its own offensive to advance south into Sittwe, one of the regime’s last strongholds in Rakhine State, and recently seized Yeyokepyin, Aungmyaykone, and Kha Maung Taw villages from the regime in Ponnagyun’s south, along the Kaladan River, a source close to the AA said. “All of those villages have been captured and we have advanced well past them,” the source said. “Gant Gaw Island and surrounding areas have also been secured by our forces.” The source added that the AA’s counter-offensive had pushed the junta back, and although the ongoing fighting was intense with daily regime airstrikes, the situation was looking good. Currently, heavy fighting is taking place on the township boundary and also in villages near Gant Gaw Island in Sittwe, such as Taw Kan and Kyar Ma Thauk, which is only 2.5 miles north of the junta’s Regional Operations Command. According to sources and footage released by the AA on September 20, the group captured four prisoners of war from the Pakokku-based Light Infantry Division 101, retrieved the bodies of several others, and seized large amounts of weapons and ammunition. AA members pictured with four prisoners of war and seized weapons and ammunition (Photo: AA) The source added that fighting was stretched from Minn Chaung bridge in Sittwe’s west to the Shwe Min Gan naval base on the bank of the Kaladan River on the southeast. Following its significant losses during Operation 1027, the regime upgraded its drone technology, which it has since utilised in battles across the country and is applying to its Ponnagyun offensive as well. Pro-junta propaganda Telegram channels have been posting drone attack videos labeled “Operation 4926,” showcasing drone strikes on bunkers, as well as casualties presumed to be AA fighters. Local residents living on the border of the two townships have reported hearing constant heavy and light arms fire nearly every day, and say there have been a number of civilian casualties. On September 20, junta artillery fire from Sittwe killed a woman and her mentally impaired mother in nearby Zee Kaing village, Rathedaung Township, a monk providing aid told Myanmar Now. As military tensions between the AA and the junta escalate, airstrikes on the area have also increased. On September 17, a bomb on Ponnagyun Township’s Phat Kya village injured one person, while another airstrike the following day killed another civilian in Thandwe Township. An aerial attack near the U Rit Taung Pagoda in Ponnagyun killed two civilians and injured three others on September 13. Clashes are also ongoing in junta-controlled Kyaukphyu Township, home to significant Chinese investment projects, with fighting particularly intense around the Taung Maw Oo naval base near AA-controlled Sane town. The AA has captured 14 of 17 townships in Rakhine State from the regime, as well as the adjacent Paletwa Township in Chin State. While some ethnic armed organisations have agreed to attend peace talks in Naypyitaw at the invitation of the junta, the AA and various other ethnic armed groups have not participated. Map showing the military situation between Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships

Battle for Sittwe flares up as AA advances from Ponnagyun

While the regime amplifies its drone offensive to breach northern Ponnagyun Township, the AA’s counter-offensives seizes three villages and makes advances into junta-controlled Sittwe

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