Fighting remains intense along Sittwe-Ponnagyun border

By Admin 09 Sep 2026

DMG Newsroom

9 September 2026, Ponnagyun

Clashes between the military junta and the Arakan Army along the border of Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships remained intense as of September 9, according to military sources.

Starting at around 9:00 AM on Wednesday, exchanges of heavy artillery and small arms fire were reported in areas around Sabahtar, Aidin, Kuntaung, Aungmyaygon, and Khamaungdaw villages near the Sittwe-Ponnagyun border.

Reciprocal heavy artillery shelling between the military junta and the Arakan Army was also reported on September 8.

Fighting along the Sittwe-Ponnagyun border had paused since late July but resumed on September 4 following a military junta offensive, with nearly a full week of continuous combat now reported.

At the onset of the renewed conflict, military junta troops crossed Minchaung Bridge in an attempt to launch an offensive and establish a foothold in Ponnagyun Township controlled by the Arakan Army, prompting the Arakanese armed group to reinforce its forces and launch counterattacks.

During the ongoing battles, the military junta has used artillery support from static bases in Sittwe Township and naval warships while simultaneously conducting airstrikes that have caused civilian casualties.

Due to the heavy fighting and ongoing military junta bombardments involving artillery, airstrikes, and rocket salvos, thousands of local residents from townships bordering Sittwe, including Ponnagyun and Rathedaung, have fled to safer areas.

Military and political analysts assess that the military junta is attempting to secure a ground foothold in Ponnagyun Township to launch further offensives into territories controlled by the Arakan Army across Arakan State.