Border News Agency
Ponnagyun, September 10
Fighting has continued in Ponnagyun Township, which is controlled by the Arakha Army (AA), as the Myanmar military is attempting to retake the area, according to local military sources. The sources said casualties on both sides have been significant.
Heavy clashes are reportedly taking place near Sapathar, Aingdin, Kwan Taung, Aung Myay Kone and Khamaung Taw villages in Ponnagyun Township. The Myanmar military is using combined ground, naval and air attacks to clear routes and attempt to retake the area.
“Heavy clashes are taking place near villages including Sapathar, Aingdin, Kwan Taung, Aung Myay Kone and Khamaung Taw. We can hear both heavy and small-arms fire,” a local military source told Border News Agency.
According to local sources, the Myanmar military has attempted to penetrate AA defensive positions near Kwan Taung Village. The AA responded with a large number of troops and launched heavy counterattacks.
As a result, both sides have suffered casualties. With both sides reinforcing their forces and continuing offensive operations, local military sources warned that the fighting could become more intense and casualties could increase.
The Myanmar military has reportedly deployed at least five columns in an attempt to establish footholds and retake Ponnagyun Township. According to local military sources, its main offensive is advancing from Min Chaung Bridge toward Kwan Taung Village along the Sittwe–Yangon highway, with additional troops being sent to reinforce the operation.
The military is also reportedly attempting to retake villages including Sapathar and Aingdin in order to establish landing positions along the Kaladan River. At the same time, heavy offensives are being conducted toward Aung Myay Kone and Khamaung Taw villages.
“The main objective is to advance down from Min Chaung Bridge and retake Kwan Taung Village to establish a military position there. If they can establish a foothold at Kwan Taung, the strategy would be to move tanks, troops and ammunition forward along the road from Sittwe. They are also trying to advance along the Kaladan River. In addition, they are launching heavy offensives to establish positions around the Pyu Son Ta area along the waterways,” a local military source told Border News Agency.
The AA reported that four houses were destroyed when the Myanmar military conducted an airstrike on Phet Kya Village in Ponnagyun Township at around 9:30 a.m. on September 7.
Neither the AA nor the Myanmar military has yet issued an official statement regarding the fighting in Ponnagyun Township. However, propaganda-oriented social media accounts affiliated with the Myanmar military have posted images purportedly showing bodies of AA members and weapons and ammunition allegedly seized during the fighting.
Those accounts have also posted footage claiming to show drone attacks against AA fighters who are reportedly defending frontline positions around Pyu Son Ta.
Local military sources said the Myanmar military has been relying heavily on its advantage in combined ground, naval and air support, while also increasingly deploying large numbers of drones. They warned that the heavy use of firepower could prolong the fighting, with casualties on both sides likely to increase.
Military observers and analysts say that if the Myanmar military succeeds in establishing a foothold in Ponnagyun Township, it could use the area as a launching point for further offensives toward Kyauktaw Township and then toward Paletwa Township. They describe this as part of a broader strategy to clear and control the route of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.
“They are launching an offensive against Ponnagyun with thousands of troops. This could potentially be a military operation at the national level. I see the main objective as clearing and controlling the Kaladan project route. The combined use of ground, naval and air forces, along with the extensive deployment of drones, is particularly notable. We need to watch whether this is also intended to demonstrate military capability to the Indian government,” a military observer told Border News Agency.
According to local sources, artillery positions operated by the Myanmar military in Sittwe and naval warships are providing artillery support for the offensive. The AA is also reportedly using artillery to attack Myanmar military positions. In addition, as the Myanmar military is carrying out heavy air support and conducting airstrikes on areas believed to be AA artillery positions as well as villages, the fighting could spread to a wider area, potentially resulting in increased harm and suffering among civilians, according to local sources.
Military observers have also warned that additional fronts could emerge, urging local residents to remain vigilant about the military situation and make necessary preparations in advance.
As a result, military observers said artillery shells have already landed in some areas of Sittwe, which remains under Myanmar military control, including near basic education high schools. They warned that surrounding townships could also face intensified airstrikes.
“When fighting breaks out, both sides will naturally exchange fire. Each side will use whatever capabilities give them an advantage. If the AA fires artillery, the military will likely respond with airstrikes. Most importantly, civilians in and around the areas near the fighting should remain alert,” military observers said.
The Myanmar military is launching a heavy offensive against Ponnagyun Township, while the AA is mounting strong resistance and defensive operations. As a result, fighting remains intense, with reciprocal artillery fire and drone attacks occurring on a daily basis.
In addition, civilians and civilian areas are being affected by airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar military.
Therefore, sources warn that the consequences of the fighting could increasingly affect not only Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung and Pauktaw, but also Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships.
The Myanmar military currently controls the Sittwe port of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, while the AA controls the Kaladan River along the route of the Kaladan project.
