Myanmar Military Suffers Heavy Losses in Clashes Along Arakan-Ayeyarwady Border
Clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and junta forces have escalated around Thabaung and Lemyethna townships in Ayeyarwady Region near the Arakan State border, resulting in heavy regime casualties, according to local resistance sources.
During battles along the Arakan Yoma range, regime troops have reportedly abandoned fallen soldiers on the battlefield. Furthermore, junta commanders continue deploying conscripts to the frontlines even after their mandatory service terms expire, refusing to discharge them.
Relatives of soldiers killed in action gathered at the regional military command headquarters in Pathein, demanding to identify and retrieve their loved ones' remains. However, regime officials have been unable to fulfill these requests, according to sources close to the families.
Military columns are operating around the Arakan Yoma foothills near Bokechaung Village in Thabaung Township's Sinku Village Tract, while active clashes continue near Theahpyu and Hlaygyitat villages.
In neighboring Lemyethna Township, fighting has spread to Aingthandi Village, southern Khongyi Village Tract, and stretches of the Ann-Gwa-Kyaungtaung Highway. Junta forces have also launched indiscriminate artillery strikes on residential communities.
“Fighting has resumed near the Yoma foothills around Thabaunggyi and Thabaunglay, and the junta is suffering heavy losses,” a Thabaung resident said. “Refusing to discharge conscripts who completed their service is sparking internal disputes. Officers are forcing them to stay and fight, but troops cannot retrieve fallen soldiers due to the severe threat from AA snipers. The junta relies on airstrikes to counter them, but those strikes fail to harm the AA and only displace civilians.”
Around 9:00 p.m. on October 1, a junta airstrike near Thitphyu Village in Thabaung Township killed a displaced Arakanese woman and injured another civilian.
“Clashes broke out in Lemyethna as military operations expanded into the Yoma foothills, making those areas completely inaccessible,” a displaced resident said. “Families cannot return home because fighting repeatedly flares up, and the threat of forced conscription remains constant.”
Junta battalions stationed in Pathein, the capital of Ayeyarwady Region, remain locked in intense combat along the Thabaung and Lemyethna frontlines, struggling to advance further into the Arakan Yoma foothills.
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