Myanmar Junta Forces Retreat Near Kyaukphyu Naval Station After Heavy Clashes with Arakan Army

Burma News International (BNI) is a network of 15 independent media and news organizations based in and around Burma A Myanmar military column was forced to retreat after suffering heavy casualties during intense fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) near Awataung Village in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State. The clashes occurred near the strategically important Taungmaw Naval Station. According to AA frontline sources, military regime forces launched an offensive on July 11, 2026, targeting AA-controlled positions under the cover of heavy monsoon rains. Fighting intensified through July 12, resulting in a chaotic retreat by junta troops, who left behind the bodies of fallen soldiers, weapons, and ammunition. "The military appeared to believe it could achieve tactical surprise by launching the operation during heavy rains and under the cover of darkness," an AA source stated. "However, AA forces had been closely monitoring their movements. The regime troops fled in disarray after their advance failed." Following the military's withdrawal, AA forces conducted battlefield clearance operations, recovering military equipment and discovering several bodies of junta soldiers. Clashes renewed shortly after the retreat as the remaining junta forces regrouped with reinforcements dispatched from Awataung Village. AA fighters have reportedly continued to pursue the retreating column, and fighting remains ongoing in the area. Military analysts note that the regime’s forces have faced severe vulnerabilities during the current fighting. Many newly trained conscripts within the military's ranks have reportedly struggled to cope with the harsh monsoon conditions in Rakhine State, leaving them at a disadvantage against the highly mobile AA fighters who are well-adapted to operating effectively in heavy rain. Despite sustaining mounting casualties and failing to secure tactical breakthroughs, the military regime has shown no signs of halting its offensives, continuing its attempts to regain ground along the Rakhine coast.