Clashes intensify along Sittwe-Ponnagyun border as Arakan Army captures military outposts
DMG Newsroom
25 September 2026, Sittwe
Fighting between the military regime and the Arakan Army continues to rage along the border between Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships, with the ethnic Arakanese armed group capturing several military outposts near Wahbo Village in Sittwe Township.
Renewed clashes along the Sittwe-Ponnagyun border began on September 4 and have continued for more than 20 days.
"Airstrikes occur daily toward Ponnagyun Township," a ground source told DMG. "Even when aircraft do not appear, surveillance drones fly overhead. Heavy artillery and small arms fire resound daily. The Arakan Army has recently captured additional military outposts."
Fierce clashes continue near Wahbo Village, Minchaung Bridge, Shwe Min Gan naval station, Gantgaw Island, Kyarmathauk Village, and the Regional Operations Command (ROC) in Sittwe Township.
Facing defeats on the ground, the military regime has launched relentless retaliatory airstrikes and heavy bombardments around Wahbo Village, several areas in Sittwe Township, and surrounding villages across Ponnagyun Township.
The military regime has lost multiple positions along the Sittwe Township border, while Arakan Army forces have captured several junta soldiers during recent engagements.
"As the Arakan Army seized new military positions in recent days, the military regime responded with continuous airstrikes," another ground military source said. "Ground fighting remains intense. Villages in Ponnagyun Township are bearing the heaviest air bombardments."
On September 4, the military regime launched "Operation 4926" in an attempt to break into territory controlled by the Arakan Army through Ponnagyun Township, but Arakan Army counteroffensives halted the military regime's advance.
"Ground fighting in Sittwe is currently at its highest intensity," a local resident of Ponnagyun familiar with the military situation said. "As the military regime pushes forward, the Arakan Army responds with vigorous counteroffensives. The military regime uses advanced drones and relies heavily on-air support. As a consequence of these clashes, residents in Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, and Werathani townships must remain extremely vigilant."
Military analysts note that the current battles across Arakan State represent a desperate effort by the military regime to salvage its prestige, while capturing strategic locations including Sittwe and Kyaukphyu remains imperative for the Arakan Army. With the open dry season approaching, military observers project that fighting will intensify further.
Clashes between the military regime and the Arakan Army occur daily across multiple active fronts, including Kyaukphyu, Sittwe, and parts of Ayeyarwady and Magway regions.
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