Arakan Army-led coalition repels junta offensive near Mindon

By Admin 15 Oct 2026

DMG Newsroom

15 October 2026, Mindon, Magway Region

Heavy clashes have erupted between the military junta and a coalition force led by the Arakan Army along the border between Mindon Township in Magway Region and Ann Township in Arakan State, with regime forces suffering heavy casualties.

Junta forces launched a major offensive from Kankyoe Village in Mindon Township toward Arakan State, where they encountered resistance and ambushes by a coalition force led by the Arakan Army.

“The regime attempted to reinforce its positions from Thaphanyaung Village toward the Point 948 hilltop outpost to gain access to the Ann and Talaintaung road,” a military source said. “Clashes are taking place daily. Coalition forces have recovered several regime bodies and captured weapons and ammunition.”

Heavy fighting has continued since October 9, forcing junta troops to retreat toward the Point 948 outpost after suffering severe casualties.

Unable to advance on the ground, the military junta has resorted to cluster bombing attacks using jet fighters and transport aircraft to support its infantry.

“The junta sent formations of Y-12 aircraft and jet fighters to drop bombs, while firing heavy artillery from Thaphanyaung Village,” another ground military source said. “Whenever their ground forces fail to advance, they rely heavily on jet fighters to bombard the area.”

The junta has deployed combined forces under the 55th Light Infantry Division alongside junta backed Pyu Saw Htee militia units in an effort to advance into Arakan State along the Mindon, Talaintaung and Maei road.

In September, coalition forces similarly recovered junta bodies and seized military equipment following clashes near Kankyoe Village.

To reenter Arakan State from Magway Region, the military junta has divided its forces into two main attack columns along the Mindon-Talaintaung-Maei road and the Ann-Padan Road.

Meanwhile, junta forces operating along the Pathein-Monywa road have launched bombing attacks on local villages using paramotors, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries, local residents reported.

“The junta continues to send reinforcements to Thaphanyaung and Pyaung villages from Weapons Factory No. 12,” a male resident of Mindon Township said. “In an attempt to regain control of the Pathein-Monywa road, the regime is using paramotors to drop bombs on resistance-controlled villages.”

Residents in and around Thaphanyaung Village have fled their homes to escape the bombardment. On October 8, paramotor dropped bombs struck Chinnit Village, followed by an attack on Melzali Village on October 12 in Mindon Township, killing three civilians and injuring three others.

Seeking to reenter Arakan State, the military junta is mounting offensives on multiple fronts from Magway, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions, as well as southern Chin State.