YANGON, July 18 (V7N) — Intense fighting has erupted near the strategic coastal town of Kyaukphyu in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, where the ethnic armed group Arakan Army (AA) has surrounded a key junta military outpost located just three kilometers from a major naval base. The siege has triggered some of the fiercest clashes in the region in recent months, as the AA presses toward potentially breaching one of the military regime’s most vital coastal defenses.
 
According to reports from The Irrawaddy, the confrontation in Kyaukphyu has been ongoing for six consecutive days, with junta forces relying heavily on drone strikes to repel AA advances. The military’s use of drones—many reportedly newly supplied and operated by Chinese-trained personnel—has increased in both frequency and precision, though airstrikes by manned aircraft remain limited.
 
If the Arakan Army successfully captures the nearby naval base, analysts warn it could cripple junta logistics and maritime operations in Rakhine. The AA already controls 14 out of 17 townships in the state, steadily consolidating power since resuming hostilities against the military following the 2021 coup.
 
Meanwhile, in the northern Shan State, the junta has retaken control of a town previously held by rebel forces, as fighting intensifies across multiple regions of Myanmar. A source familiar with the ground situation said clashes are currently severe across at least three regions, with the military focusing primarily on drone warfare due to strategic and logistical constraints.
 
“Fighting is now particularly intense in Kyaukphyu, with drone attacks occurring daily. I’ve heard new drones have arrived recently, along with operators trained in China,” said a local security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns.
 
The developments underscore the junta’s increasingly strained position as it grapples with simultaneous insurgencies across the country, led by ethnic armed organizations and the resistance movement. The Arakan Army, part of the anti-junta Three Brotherhood Alliance, continues to gain ground in the west, further isolating junta forces.
 
Background:
The Kyaukphyu naval base is considered a linchpin in the military’s control of the Bay of Bengal and a hub for Chinese-funded infrastructure projects, including the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port and special economic zone. Its loss would not only be symbolic but would severely impact the junta’s regional dominance.
 
As conflict deepens, humanitarian conditions in Rakhine are also deteriorating, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire and access to aid severely restricted.
 
END/WD/SMA/