ARSA steps up military activities in Maungdaw amid Sittwe fighting

By Admin 30 Oct 2026

DMG Newsroom

30 October 2026, Maungdaw

Taking advantage of intense fighting between the military junta and the Arakan Army (AA) around Sittwe, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has stepped up its military activities along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border in Maungdaw Township in recent days, according to local sources.

Border residents said ARSA fighters had carried out a series of military movements and hit-and-run attacks targeting Arakan Army border security outposts.

"ARSA activities have resurged in both northern and southern Maungdaw Township," a local resident of Maungdaw told DMG. "ARSA fighters have held public gatherings in border areas for recruitment. They also engaged in armed clashes with the Arakan Army last month."

The Arakan Army previously said that junta forces had brought ARSA members to frontline areas around Sittwe Township and forced them to fight alongside regime troops.

During the 2024 battle for Maungdaw, armed groups including ARSA and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) fought against the Arakan Army while the military junta was also battling Arakan Army forces in the area.

The Arakan Army is currently conducting area-clearance operations to maintain border security. It has reportedly recovered bodies of ARSA fighters, weapons and ammunition following recent clashes.

Local residents expressed serious security concerns over continued ARSA movements near border villages, including Meetaik Village near Taungpyo Letwe Town in northern Maungdaw Township.

"ARSA members are frequently spotted near Meetaik Village and border areas," another male resident of Maungdaw said. "By the time we report their presence to the Arakan Army, they disappear into the jungle. Their persistent presence poses a serious threat to the future safety of local Arakanese residents. The Arakan Army needs to take decisive action against them."

Military observers said ARSA's attacks on Arakan Army positions in Maungdaw coincided with intense fighting around Sittwe, and suggested that the activities could be part of a coordinated effort with the junta to harass and distract Arakan Army forces.

The Arakan Army has reinforced security along the Maungdaw border and is conducting counter-insurgency operations to clear ARSA fighters from the area.

Armed groups including ARSA, the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) and the RSO frequently cross the border from Bangladesh into Arakan State and have been accused of carrying out ambushes against Arakan Army outposts, kidnapping civilians for ransom and targeted killings.

To protect residents from security threats posed by armed groups, the Arakan Army imposed a nighttime curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. across Maungdaw District on August 9, while intensifying security operations.