Clashes intensify in Sittwe as artillery exchanges and airstrikes escalate

By Admin 30 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

30 March 2026, Sittwe

Fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army has escalated in Sittwe Township, Arakan State, since the last week of March, according to military sources.

The clashes have not yet developed into a large-scale ground offensive but are marked by ongoing exchanges of heavy artillery fire, with the Myanmar military also using airstrikes and drones.

A source close to the Arakan Army said daily exchanges of fire are taking place and that the ethnic Arakanese army shot down a junta drone on March 29.

“In Sittwe, exchanges of fire between the two sides are nearly constant. The Myanmar military is carrying out daily attacks using heavy artillery, air support and drones. The Arakan Army was able to shoot down a junta drone during an attack yesterday,” the source said.

Alongside the fighting, the regime has increased aerial attacks in areas bordering Sittwe Township, including Ponnagyun and Rathedaung.

On March 27 and 28, airstrikes targeted several villages in Rathedaung as well as areas such as Mosel Island and Wahbo on the border between Ponnagyun and Sittwe.

As fighting continues near Sittwe, the regime has tightened security in the city. Local residents say they are struggling to maintain their livelihoods amid the sound of heavy artillery.

“Even though we hear the constant sound of artillery, we have to continue our daily work because we need food and basic supplies,” a local woman said.

A large number of residents remain in Sittwe, where daily wage workers are facing hardship due to the regime-imposed blockade.

While daily life in the Arakan State capital continues for now, concerns remain over the safety of civilians if ground fighting intensifies.