AA Clashes with ARSA in Maungdaw

An Arakan Army fighter conducts security duties in Maungdaw District in August 2025.

Clashes erupted between the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Arakan Army (AA) near Milepost 56 in northern Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, according to local sources.

The fighting began around 8:00 p.m. yesterday when ARSA fighters attacked an AA outpost, a military source said.

"Clashes are taking place with ARSA in northern Maungdaw Township," the source told DMG. "Arakan Army forces are currently conducting area clearance operations." DMG is continuing to gather additional details on the ground situation.

Military sources and security analysts previously reported that several armed groups—including ARSA, the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA), and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO)—have entered Rakhine State from Bangladesh to target AA positions.

These groups have also been accused of ambushes, civilian killings, and kidnappings for ransom.

Analysts note that ARSA periodically resumes operations after periods of relative quiet, suggesting the renewed attacks in Maungdaw may be tied to ongoing clashes in Sittwe Township.

"With the military regime retreating on the Sittwe front under AA offensives, the regime and ARSA appear to be coordinating multi-front attacks," said an observer monitoring conflict dynamics in Rakhine State. "In the past, the regime and ARSA have similarly carried out joint operations against the Arakan Army."

To address security threats from insurgent groups in Maungdaw District, the Arakan Army implemented a 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew on August 9, alongside intensified security patrols.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Sittwe, reported movements of ARSA fighters in the Mayu Mountain Range have led local communities to establish rotating night watches to protect their villages.