Myanmar Junta Troops Retreat with Heavy Losses in Kyaukphyu’s Taung Maw Oo Battlefield

Narinjara News, June 19, 2026

A military column from the ruling junta, which launched a second offensive against Arakan Army (AA) positions from the Ava Taung village base near Taung Maw Oo, Kyaukphyu Township, has reportedly been forced into another retreat following heavy casualties and intense counterattacks.

A local military source told Narinjara that active combat has paused in the area over the past few days following the military's withdrawal.

"This is the second time. In the first and second weeks of June, the air force bombed heavily, and the army advanced in large numbers. The navy also bombarded villages with artillery, airstrikes, and heavy shelling. This time, the fighting was very fierce. The army suffered severe casualties and withdrew to the Ava Taung camp. The fighting has ceased for now," the source stated.

The junta previously launched a major offensive to capture the nearby town of Sanae. During operations that began around May 10, 2026, the AA surrounded the town and forced the military to retreat with substantial casualties. Approximately 40 regime soldiers were killed during this period, and a military source confirmed to Narinjara News that the AA had successfully recovered more than 20 bodies alongside a cache of ammunition.

After the AA mounted a fierce counterattack and captured at least four of the six military outposts guarding the strategic Taung Maw Oo naval base, the junta reinforced the Ava Taung camp. In early June, they launched a renewed offensive heavily supported by the air force, naval units, and drones.

However, this offensive also resulted in heavy casualties, prompting the junta troops to retreat once again. Prior to this, the junta's military had established a line of battle from Min Pyin and Tai Chaung to secure the road connecting Ramree Township and Kyaukphyu Township. Due to the severe losses at Taung Maw Oo, the military was forced to shift its strategy.

Another military source noted that the situation on the Taung Maw Oo front has severely deteriorated for the junta, leading them to divert reinforcements to the Min Pyin and Tai Chaung sectors.

"There are also many casualties in the southern Taung Maw Oo area, forcing them to reinforce the Min Pyin and Tai Chaung regions. It seems to be a continuous cycle—if one side loses ground, the other side attempts to press the attack again," the source added.