A military junta convoy attempting to reinforce the strategic Nat Yay Kan base along the Ann-Padan Road was forced to retreat after suffering heavy casualties in attacks by the Arakan Army (AA) and allied forces, according to local military sources.

Since July 25, the regime has been trying to dispatch troop reinforcements from Artillery Battalion No. 905 in Padan Town, Magway Region, to the Nat Yay Kan base located in the Arakan Mountains.

However, the convoy came under coordinated drone strikes, artillery fire, and ground ambushes near Pazi and Gotegyi villages in Ngaphe Township, forcing regime troops to withdraw with numerous casualties, a frontline source said.

“The military convoy reinforcing Nat Yay Kan was hit hard by ambushes and pulled back with casualties,” the source said. “However, some forward infantry columns remain scattered in the area, and ground clashes are continuing daily.”

The Arakan Army and its allies are currently conducting clearance operations against scattered junta units near Pazi and Gotegyi. In response, the military regime has launched airstrikes to cover its troops, leading to sustained fighting near Nat Yay Kan.

The reinforcement force, consisting of roughly 70 vehicles, was originally dispatched from the junta’s Northwestern Command in Monywa, Sagaing Region. After advancing through Magway Town, the column split into two elements, with one heading toward the Nat Yay Kan tactical base and the other moving toward Salin and Saw townships.

Revolutionary forces have maintained a tight siege on the Nat Yay Kan air defense facility and have repeatedly intercepted incoming reinforcement columns.

Military observers noted that the regime is attempting to push through reinforcements at all costs due to the base’s vital strategic position, which protects key military infrastructure.

“Nat Yay Kan is a critical hub for the junta’s Magway front,” a local military observer explained. “It serves as a national-level air defense facility and acts as a primary shield for the regime's defense industry factories in Magway Region. That is why the junta is determined to hold it with all available forces.”

The Arakan Army and allied resistance groups have besieged the hilltop tactical base since early 2025. After seizing the surrounding outposts, revolutionary forces have kept the primary facility under siege. To prevent its collapse, the regime has repeatedly deployed elements from Light Infantry Divisions (LID) 77 and 99, Military Operations Commands (MOC) 10, 14, and 17, as well as junta-aligned militias.