Fighting intensifies in Shwe Myint Gar near Sittwe city

Fighting has become increasingly intense in Shwe Myint Gar village near Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, with junta forces, having suffered losses in ground battles, continuing to carry out successive airstrikes, according to military sources. The Arakan Army (AA) has posed military threats up to a key intersection on the Ye Chan Pyin road in Sittwe city, and the fighting in Shwe Myint Gar is intensifying, said CDM Major Zin Yaw to Mizzima. "In Sittwe, we can say that the offensive has begun. In the past few days, our forces have been able to threaten up to the Bandula Gwa intersection, also called the Ye Chan Pyin road intersection. Ye Chan Pyin has three military bases, and opposite Ye Chan Pyin is the State Parliament office. It is also not far from their Regional Operations Command (Da-ga-sa). Naw-pa-kha, who fled from Ann, is also seeking refuge in Da-ga-sa, so they are trying to be able to threaten close to Naw-pa-kha again. They have attacked Shwe Myint Gar again. The attack on Shwe Myint Gar is characterized by heavy artillery and a very intense offensive," he analyzed. Kaing Koak Island, the most important area behind the junta's Regional Operations Command (Da-ga-sa), has also been blockaded by the Arakan Army (AA) up to Hnin Gyi Island, with military supplies being stored from the direction of Wa Bo village. Therefore, the offensive launched in Shwe Myint Gar is an attempt to gain a foothold to begin the operation to capture Sittwe city, and it is a typical tactic used by the AA when launching city capture operations, concluded CDM Major Zin Yaw. Fighting in Shwe Myint Gar near Sittwe city, which intensified last May and then temporarily ceased, has become intense again in the third week of July, according to regional military sources speaking to Mizzima. "In Shwe Myint Gar, it has been happening and stopping, and now it has become more intense. It has gained momentum in recent days. We see that the Arakan Army is also acting according to the general's statement that they will capture all remaining cities before 2027. Currently, the AA is continuously firing heavy weapons from a distance at some guard posts and naval bases in Shwe Myint Gar. Due to the high number of casualties in the army during the fighting, reinforcements are being continuously sent by naval ships at night when soldiers are asleep," he said. In Kyaukphyu Township, near the Taung Maw Gyi naval base in the direction of Hwataung village, the junta forces are launching an offensive, but the AA side is not counter-attacking to avoid China's special economic zone. However, they are controlling the junta forces' offensive by ambushing some senior military officers and firing with snipers, according to military sources. It is known that the junta forces, who are losing on the battlefield, have intensified and are frequently carrying out airstrikes in July targeting areas in Rakhine State where fighting has not occurred, including Gwa, Taungup, Mae, Thandwe, Ngapali, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U townships. "It is like in northern Shan State. We have seen them acting in a similar way to how they bombed the TNLA-controlled areas in northern Shan State. Therefore, although the offensive is being restrained in Kyaukphyu due to the presence of Chinese economic zones, the Sittwe estuary is important for the Kaladan River Multi-purpose Project. Therefore, I believe that the Arakan Army is preparing to take the initiative and launch a city capture operation," said Major Zin Yaw. The most severely affected by airstrikes recently is Thandwe city, with the Arakan Army (AA) reporting that three civilians were killed and 21 were injured in a single day (yesterday, July 24). Local residents report that the junta forces have established strong defensive positions in Sittwe city, deployed snipers on high-rise buildings, installed naval mines around the estuary area, frequently reinforced naval bases and artillery units with hundreds of troops, and are carrying out daily arbitrary arrests in residential areas of the city. There are more than 10 warships in Sittwe city, and more than 10 military units, including the Regional Operations Command (Da-ga-sa), Infantry Regiments (IR) 20, 270, 232, Light Infantry Regiments (LIR) 344, 354, and Police Battalions 12 and 36. Currently, the Arakan Army (AA) controls 15 cities and is still attempting to capture the remaining three cities. Editor – Thant Zaw (Thanlyin) The post Fighting intensifies in Shwe Myint Gar near Sittwe city appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.