Regime continues to attack AA-held territories amid election speculation 

By Admin 01 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

1 October 2025, Thandwe
 
Myanmar’s military regime has been carrying out a series of attacks in recent days on towns in Arakan State and Paletwa in Chin State, which are controlled by the Arakan Army (AA).
 
The regime bombed Taungup with airstrikes on September 26 and then attacked Thandwe Township with jet fighters and warships on September 27 and 28.
 
The military regime carried out airstrikes on Paletwa on September 29 and shelled Rathedaung Township, resulting in four civilian deaths and at least 26 injuries in the Arakan Army-controlled area in recent days.
 
Military and political analysts say the regime’s attacks on civilian areas are an act of desperation.
 
“The military regime is in a state of military defeat in Arakan State and will soon be forced to leave Arakan State,” said U Myo Kyaw, General Secretary of the Arakan League for Democracy. “Therefore, it must be said that the military regime is not attacking the Arakan Army out of malice, but rather inhumanly attacking the Arakanese people.”
 
He added, “The military regime is calculating whether the Arakan Army’s operations will be weakened by the attacks that are intended to instill fear and hurt the people. That is why I understand that the Arakan Army has issued a statement to the people to be wary.”
 
The Arakan Army issued a warning on September 29 to remain vigilant as the military regime launched airstrikes on areas where crowds might gather in non-combat townships in Arakan State.
 
The military regime has suffered defeats in three regions bordering Arakan State, and conscripts have fled without wanting to fight, the Arakan Army said.
 
On the other hand, the military regime and its affiliated political parties are eager to hold elections in some townships in southern Arakan State, such as Thandwe, Taungup, Gwa and Ann.
 
U Myo Kyaw said the military regime may have attacked Arakan Army-held territories in a bid to retake these townships before the junta-sponsored election, the first phase of which is slated for December.
  
“According to the military regime’s statements, we see that elections will be held in Ann, Taungup, Thandwe and Gwa townships. The military regime is also bombing Paletwa. The military regime is attacking Taungup and Thandwe towns from the air and also from the sea,” said Captain Zin Yaw, a participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
 
Captain Zin Yaw continued that the military regime is planning to hold elections in four townships in southern Arakan State, and is launching air and naval attacks in addition to ground attacks.
 
“The military regime will have to overcome Chin resistance forces to attack Paletwa, but it has registered airstrikes on Arakan Army bases. During the election period, the military regime will have to enter four towns in southern Arakan State. The military regime is trying to enter Ann through Magway Region, while trying to enter Taungup through Bago Region by land, and Thandwe and Gwa are not possible by land, so they may try to enter by sea,” Captain Zin Yaw said.
 
The military regime has announced that Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung will hold elections in three townships in Arakan State, and that the elections will be held on December 28.
 
The military regime has announced that elections will not be held in 10 of the remaining 14 townships, which are controlled by the Arakan Army. The regime has not explicitly made its electoral intentions clear for Ann, Taungup, Thandwe and Gwa townships.
 
According to statements from the Arakan Army, the military regime is intensifying its offensives in Arakan-Magway, Arakan-Bago, and Arakan-Ayeyarwady, which border Arakan State.