Battles erupt to pressure Sittwe's regional command, military relies on air support

Fighting has erupted near Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, with the interim government's military forces desperately defending to avoid losing strategic territories, relying on air and heavy artillery support, according to ground reports. The military had prepared advancing columns and armored vehicles through Sittwe city towards the Min Chaung Bridge area to re-launch an offensive on Ponnagyun Township, which is controlled by the Arakan Army (AA). However, the AA side engaged in contact battles in the area of Ye Chan Pin village on the outskirts of Sittwe city, leading to intense fighting and even air strikes, it was learned. "If the AA can control the Ye Chan Pin intersection, the communication lines between Sittwe city and military bases will be cut off, and the military will be in a situation where it must defend Sittwe city by any means necessary," said CDM Major Zinyaw. Currently, the AA is closely controlling areas such as Shwe Min Gan, Kankaw Kyun, and Amiya Kyun in Sittwe Township, and is infiltrating and attacking areas like Nar Kan and Kyar Ma Thauk. The current battleground, Ye Chan Pin, is only about 1 mile away from the main intersection of Bandula in Sittwe city, and has reached a position to threaten and pressure the Western Regional Military Command (Napaka) based in Sakkel Pin. According to information received on July 17, intense exchanges of small arms fire, as well as close-range encirclement and blockade, were occurring during the battles in Ye Chan Pin and Kyat Taw Pin. In Ye Chan Pin, the Army Hospital (Taseya 17/100), Supply and Transport Regiment (Taphaya 828), and Light Infantry Battalion (Khalaya 270) are located sequentially. Before the fighting intensified around Sittwe city, on July 13 and 14, the Sittwe-based Regional Command (Dakase), Police Battalion (12), and Light Infantry Battalion (Khalaya 20) began firing heavy artillery at AA-controlled areas outside the city, initiating provocations. Subsequently, as the fighting approached the city, the military excessively used air support, carrying out continuous airstrikes on Pauktaw Township on July 15 and on Ponnagyun Township yesterday, July 19. Photo - Social Media (Old photo) The post Battles erupt to pressure Sittwe's regional command, military relies on air support appeared first on Ayeyarwaddy Times.