Intense fighting erupts as military junta renews offensive in Sittwe Township

Khaing Lu Hla (Roma Mray)

Narinjara, September 12, 2026

Intense fighting has broken out in Sittwe Township after the military junta launched a renewed offensive targeting Khamaungtaw and Ywarbo, areas where regime forces previously suffered heavy casualties.

Regional military sources told Narinjara that the junta deployed a force of more than 200 troops to spearhead the assault, which began late yesterday, September 11.

"During the initial offensive, approximately 200 junta troops were killed near Khamaungtaw and Ywarbo," a military source said. "The Arakan Army (AA) waited until the advancing troops entered a designated 'kill zone' before decisively engaging them. While junta forces initially retreated from those areas, they launched a renewed push yesterday."

The military's broader offensive originally began on September 4, when it deployed a column toward Khamaungtaw via Yar Yoe Pyin, supported by artillery fire from the Shwe Min Gan naval base.

During that initial push, regime columns split into three groups to advance from the Kyan Taw outpost toward Ywarbo village, from A Myint Kyun toward Kwan Taung village in Ponnagyun Township, and from Ywar Haung Chaung toward Min Hla village.

They were ultimately forced to retreat following fierce clashes with the AA.

Despite a brief, week-long lull in ground maneuvers, exchanges of heavy artillery and drone strikes have remained constant since September 4 along the border of Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships which is now under the AA control.

Local residents confirmed that heavy ground fighting resumed on the night of September 11.

"Fighting broke out again last night near Khamaungtaw and Ywarbo," a local man stated. "Regime forces do not dare to advance from the A Myint Kyun side. The main thrust of the offensive is concentrated in the Ywarbo, Khamaungtaw, and Ywar Haung Chaung areas, where the heaviest clashes are currently taking place."

Another Sittwe resident reported hearing heavy artillery originating from within Sittwe city to support the frontline troops near Ywarbo village.

"Junta forces have established fortified defensive positions near Kyay Taw and Thone Saung villages on the outskirts of Sittwe, and the sound of heavy artillery fire from those locations is clearly audible," the resident said.

During the initial September 4 clashes, the AA fiercely resisted the heavily reinforced junta advance, seizing weapons and bodies from the battlefield. Ground sources noted that the military later retrieved most of its casualties and equipment using reinforcement columns backed by naval fire, drone strikes, and heavy artillery.