Why Did the Myanmar Military Bomb a Crowded Area in Sittwe—a City Under Its Own Control?

Narinjara, October 23, 2026

Residents are shocked and alarmed by the Myanmar military’s decision to conduct an aerial bombing of a crowded area within Sittwe, a city that remains under the junta’s control, leaving many to question the motive behind the attack.

Reports indicate the strike was carried out as a form of retaliation against Rakhine civilians.

The military allegedly used a Y-12 aircraft to drop bombs on a bustling downtown area of Sittwe following an artillery strike by the Arakan Army (AA) on the night of October 22, which reportedly killed approximately 10 Myanmar military personnel, including two colonels and six other officers.

A government official with close ties to military circles, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Narinjara that an AA artillery shell landed and exploded inside the Regional Operations Command (ROC) headquarters.

"I heard that an artillery shell fired by the AA landed and exploded inside the ROC headquarters last night, killing over 10 people—including two colonels and six other officers," the official stated. "It is understood that, in response, they used a Y-12 aircraft this morning to drop two bombs on a busy area in the center of Sittwe."

The official suggested that the decision to bomb a densely populated area likely came from higher-level command.

"This can be interpreted as a preemptive warning from the military, essentially saying, 'If you strike us, this is how we will respond.' Many people are now reporting that two bombs were dropped by a Y-12 aircraft," he added.

Narinjara News has not yet been able to independently verify the reports regarding the casualties at the ROC headquarters.

Local sources indicate that this morning, the bombs landed and exploded near the Shwe Ngar (Golden Fish) snack shop in Mawleik Ward, located in the military-controlled center of Sittwe.

At least five civilians, including four women, were killed, and numerous others sustained injuries. This incident follows days of intense and heavy fighting between the AA and the Myanmar military in the areas surrounding the city.