Sittwe-Based Regional Operations Command and Battalions Face Imminent Threat Following AA Offensive Near Army Cantonment

Narinjara, October 6, 2026

Reports from within the military indicate growing anxiety among the ranks of the junta army as the Arakan Army (AA) intensifies its offensive.

Sittwe-based units, including the Regional Operations Command (ROC), various Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs), Infantry Battalions (IBs), and medical units, are now facing direct military threats as AA ground operations close in on the army cantonment.

"The military forces initially launched an offensive into AA-controlled areas in southern Ponnagyun Township. When the situation turned unfavorable, they shifted to a fighting withdrawal, which has now devolved into a full-scale retreat. As the retreat unfolded, the AA advanced and pressed the attack. Currently, the ROC, alongside the LIBs, IBs, and medical units, are at risk of being overrun and face a severe military threat," said a source close to the junta military.

The source stated that following these setbacks, anxiety has mounted among senior military leaders, including Brigadier General Kyaw Zaw, commander of the Western Command (Na Pa Kha).

The situation has reportedly escalated to the point where helicopters are being kept on standby for a potential escape should Sittwe fall.

"Anxiety is growing among top military leaders because their offensive against the AA has failed. They are also facing reprimands and harsh criticism from their superiors. It is precisely because they are unable to defeat the AA that commanders like Kyaw Zaw are inflicting suffering on the civilian population through airstrikes," the source added.

A local source told Narinjara that the military is intentionally bombing and killing Rakhine civilians as a tactic to exert pressure on the Arakan Army following the failure of its offensive operations.

The source added that the military's September offensive was a total failure.

Subsequent attempts to resume the attack resulted in heavy casualties under the Arakan Army's counter-offensive, leaving the junta forces unable to retrieve their dead.

"Fighting has continued in various parts of Sittwe Township from September 29 to the present. The bodies of junta troops remain on the battlefield, and no one dares to retrieve them or their weapons and ammunition. Dozens of decomposing bodies have been left where they fell due to the constant threat of airstrikes and drone attacks, and the junta forces themselves have made no effort to collect them," the source said.

Local reports also indicate that the Arakan Army recently attacked the Central Ordnance Depot (COD), a facility under the Sittwe ROC located near Kyar Ma Thauk Village, roughly four to five miles from Sittwe City. However, Narinjara has not yet been able to independently verify this information.