Regime clashes with AA-led resistance forces in western Bago

By Admin 17 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

17 September 2025, Padaung, Bago Region

The Myanmar military is reportedly engaged in heavy fighting with a coalition force led by the Arakan Army (AA) near Hsinlan and Nyaungkyoe villages in Padaung Township, Bago Region. Junta troops based in Shukhinthar Village are reportedly attacking near Hsinlan and Nyaungkyoe villages, prompting a counterattack by a joint force headed by the Arakan Army and resulting in casualties among junta soldiers.

"The Myanmar military is launching attacks almost every day with newly recruited troops," said a source familiar with the situation on the ground. "They are mainly using drones because the ground offensive is not increasing. When the Myanmar military launches a ground offensive, many people flee. Injured junta soldiers are being sent to the Oakshitpin military station every day."

The Myanmar military is reportedly sending reinforcements through the No. 6 Weapons Factory in Nyaung Chay Htauk, which is on the Taungup-Padaung road, and is also deploying troops from the No. 6 Weapons Factory in Pyingyi Village, Mindon Township.

In a September 10 statement, AA said that in the battles near Nyaungkyoe Village and Hsinlan Village, battalions under the 14th Military Operations Command (MOC-14) and militias were joining forces to attack anti-regime forces.

The Myanmar military has launched an offensive in Taungup after failing to enter Arakan State from the Ann front, and military analysts say it wants to regain control of some southern townships in Arakan State for the upcoming elections.

"When the Myanmar military was unable to launch an offensive through Ann, it attempted to launch an offensive through the Taungup Valley. If the Myanmar military could capture Nyaungkyoe Village from there, it could proceed to Taungup and from there attempt to regain control of the southern townships of Arakan State, including Ann, Thandwe, Gwa, and Kyaukpyu," said Captain Zin Yaw, a participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

Since the regime has not included townships in southern Arakan State in the townships where elections will not be held, there are speculations that it may launch airstrikes before undertaking a ground offensive.

"The Myanmar military's ground offensive will not be able to penetrate Arakan State," Captain Zin Yaw said.

On September 10, the Arakan Army announced that the Myanmar military had withdrawn Light Infantry Division No. 99 from the Nat Yay Kan junta base and was conducting offensive operations along the Bago-Arakan, Magway-Arakan, and Ayeyarwady-Arakan borders with troops under the Nos. 17 and 14 Military Operations Command and militiamen.

The Arakan Army is engaged in a conflict with allied rebel forces in the three regions bordering Arakan State. Fighting between the military and the Arakan Army is also ongoing in Kyaukphyu Township.