Junta reinforces Sittwe with naval and armored vehicles deployment

Fighting has erupted near Warbo and Tawkan villages in Sittwe Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State, as the junta and the Arakan Army (AA) clash intensely. In response, the junta has bolstered its presence with additional armored vehicles and naval vessels, local military analysts said.

The latest confrontations began on February 23, prompting the junta to deploy armored vehicles near Amyintkyun Village, close to the border with Ponnagyun Township, while simultaneously increasing its naval presence along the coast.

“Both sides have been firing with heavy and small arms. The junta has even shelled several villages in Ponnagyun Township. On the ground, armored vehicles are moving toward Amyintkyun, and out at sea, the number of warships has gone up noticeably,” a source told DMG.

The source noted that four warships had been patrolling offshore near Sittwe, but recent sightings suggest as many as seven vessels are now operating in the area.

Currently, the AA controls Warbo Island, while the junta retains positions in Tawkan, Kyantaw, and Gantgawkyun villages, resulting in a tense standoff along the frontline.

As the fighting escalates, junta warships have shelled villages along the Sittwe–Ponnagyun border, supported by artillery fire from Police Battalion 12 stationed in Sittwe Township.

“We’ve been hearing loud explosions from Sittwe for the past few days. The clashes are still going on, and we’ve seen aircraft flying overhead. Last week, there were airstrikes near Kuntaung village on the outskirts of Sittwe City, and now the gunfire and shelling are happening almost every day,” said a woman from Ponnagyun Township.

This renewed violence comes after a short period of relative calm that lasted since early February.

Sittwe remains one of the few major urban centers in northern Arakan State still under junta control. The AA has imposed a siege on the city after capturing neighboring townships, including Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, and Pauktaw.

As the state capital, Sittwe is important both strategically and symbolically for the junta. To prevent the AA from taking the city, the coup regime reinforced its troops and tightened security.