Junta warships shell Taungup Township with heavy weaponry

By Admin 22 Apr 2026

DMG Newsroom

22 April 2026, Taungup

Junta warships are firing heavy weapons at Kaleintaung Island and Phaungkhar Island in Taungup Township, areas controlled by the Arakan Army, according to local residents.

The warships, positioned between Saku Island in Ramree Township and Taungup Township, have been shelling the areas from April 21 through the morning of April 22.

As a result, local residents have been forced to flee toward Taungup.

“Currently, residents from Kaleintaung Island and Phaungkhar Island are fleeing to Taungup. The junta warships in the sea between Ramree and Taungup have been shelling since yesterday. They were shelling again this morning. That is why the villagers from these islands have fled,” a local man in Taungup said.

Nearly 100 people from Kaleintaung and Phaungkhar islands have reportedly fled to Taungup.

Saku Island, where the junta warships are located, lies on the Ramree side, and residents from that island are reportedly facing difficulties in escaping.

In addition, traders who previously conducted commerce between Taungup and Saku Island in Ramree have had to suspend operations due to heavy weapons fire from Myanmar Navy vessels.

A man monitoring the military situation in Arakan State analyzed, “It can be seen that the regime is relying on its navy to try to reclaim certain areas in Arakan State. Since they can no longer succeed by land, it appears they are using the waterways to threaten and trouble local people.”

On April 11, junta warships also anchored near Kyauknimaw Village on the Ramree coast, causing difficulties for fishermen and maritime travelers.

The regime, which is facing military defeats across the country, has reportedly sent no fewer than 30 warships along the Arakan coast via Hainggyi Island in Ayeyarwady Region since the beginning of this year.

As the regime has lost almost all inland territories in Arakan State, it is targeting civilians by reinforcing its naval power, firing heavy weapons, and conducting airstrikes with fleets of aircraft.