Junta shelling drives Mosel Island residents from homes in Rathedaung Twsp

Junta troops participating in a heavy artillery firing drill. Photo: CINCDS

DMG Newsroom

22 September 2026, Rathedaung

Facing military setbacks along the Sittwe Township border, the military regime has launched relentless heavy artillery bombardments targeting Mosel Island in Rathedaung Township, local residents said.

Junta forces heavily shelled Mosel Island on September 20 and continued the artillery strikes through the afternoon of September 21.

Shells fired from junta military bases and naval vessels stationed in Sittwe landed and exploded inside Zeekaing and Nyaungpinlel villages on Mosel Island.

"The continuous artillery fire from junta bases in Sittwe made the ground shake," a local male resident of Rathedaung Township said. "Fearing for their lives, most residents have fled to safer areas, with only a few remaining behind."

On September 20, a junta artillery shell struck Zeekaing Village, killing two local women.

Intense fighting between junta troops and the Arakan Army has raged for 15 consecutive days along the border between Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships.

During these clashes, the Arakan Army captured weapons, ammunition, and several junta prisoners of war. Facing battlefield defeats, the military regime has responded by targeting civilian-populated areas with air power and heavy artillery.

As Rathedaung Township borders Sittwe, many local residents have abandoned their homes to escape hazards posed by artillery, airstrikes, and naval attacks.

"The regime has shelled this area periodically since clashes began, but the bombardment has grown much heavier in recent days," a local woman from Mosel Island said. "The sound of explosions keeps us awake at night in fear. While some villagers have already fled, others are monitoring the situation."

Heavy artillery strikes and aerial bombardments have forced residents from Zeekaing, Hnankham, Sarpyingyi, Panzinmaw, and Phyuchaung villages on Mosel Island to flee to safety.

The military regime conducts daily artillery bombardments and airstrikes targeting villages across Ponnagyun, Werathani, and Rathedaung townships, causing continuous civilian casualties.