Fighting erupted near Sinlan and Nyaungkyoe villages in the Okeshitpin military region of Padaung Township, Bago Region, after junta troops launched a major offensive against positions held by Arakan Army (AA) forces.
Junta troops based in the Shukhinthar area advanced toward Sinlan and Nyaungkyoe villages but were ambushed by AA and allied forces, resulting in heavy junta casualties.
“The junta keeps sending in newly recruited troops and tries to push forward almost every day, but its ground offensive hasn’t made any real progress. It’s also trying to neutralize the AA positions using drones, but that hasn’t been very effective either. Every time the junta attacks, its troops end up retreating in chaos because of strong AA resistance. Since its forces are taking heavy losses, the junta has to send reinforcements from Okeshitpin Village every day,” a source familiar with the military situation in the area said.
In the fighting around Sinlan and Nyaungkyoe, the junta is launching attacks with three military columns.
The AA reported on September 10 that the junta has been using battalions under Military Operations Command 14 (MOC 14) along with auxiliary militia forces in clashes near Sinlan and Nyaungkyoe.
Military analysts suggest the junta is trying to retake some AA-held territories in Arakan State ahead of the upcoming elections it will oversee. After failing to capture Gwa Town in southern Arakan State, it appears the junta is now focusing more effort on taking over another town in the state, Taungup, they added.
“The junta failed in its push on Gwa, so now it seems to be focusing on Taungup. If it captures Nyaungkyoe, it would have a clear path to advance toward Taungup. From that point, it could try to seize control of Ann, Thandwe, Gwa, and Kyauphyu in southern Arakan State,” said Captain Zin Yaw, a former junta officer who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), an anti-coup campaign in which civil servants and security personnel refuse to work for the coup regime.
The junta’s election plans do not include AA-held townships in southern Arakan State, and there are signs it may step up ground offensives and carry out additional airstrikes ahead of those operations.
“It is impossible for the junta to penetrate Arakan State and advance solely through ground offensives,” Captain Zin Yaw said.
The AA’s September 10 statement further reported that the junta had rotated Light Infantry Division 99 troops, previously deployed under the Natyaekane Tactical Operations Command, with forces from MOC 14 and 17, and was then carrying out offensive operations in parts of Bago, Magway, and Ayeyarwady regions, all of which border Arakan State.
The AA has been conducting operations in these regions neighboring Arakan State in coordination with local resistance partner groups. In Arakan State, the AA is currently fighting the junta in Kyauphyu Township.
