Clashes continue in Sittwe as junta reinforces naval, armored deployment

By Admin 26 Feb 2026

DMG Newsroom

26 February 2026, Sittwe

Clashes have erupted between the Myanmar military regime and the Arakan Army (AA) near Wahbo and Tawkan Villages in Sittwe Township, with the junta deploying additional naval vessels and armored vehicles, according to military sources.

Fighting began on February 23, with the regime positioning armored vehicles near Amyint Kyun Village on the border of Ponnagyun Township and increasing its naval presence offshore.

“Both sides have exchanged heavy and light weapons. The military regime has also been shelling several villages in Ponnagyun Township. On the ground, armored vehicles have been moved toward Amyint Kyun Village in a show of force, and the number of combat ships at sea has increased significantly,” a military source told DMG.

The source said that while four warships were previously seen in waters near Sittwe, as many as seven vessels have been spotted in recent days.

The Arakan Army currently controls Wahbo Island, while the military remains positioned in Tawkan, Kyantaw and Gantgawkyun villages across the creek, creating a tense frontline standoff.

As fighting intensifies, junta warships have shelled villages along the Sittwe-Ponnagyun border, with artillery support from the No. 12 Police Battalion based in Sittwe.

“We have been hearing loud explosions from the direction of Sittwe. We heard clashes are ongoing and have seen aircraft flying overhead. Last week, there were airstrikes near Kuntaung village on the outskirts of Sittwe. The sound of gunfire and shelling has become a daily occurrence,” said a woman in Ponnagyun Township.

The renewed fighting in Sittwe follows a period of relative calm that had lasted since the first week of February.

Sittwe remains one of the few major urban centres in northern Arakan State still under junta control. The Arakan Army has maintained a blockade on the city since seizing neighbouring townships, including Ponnagyun, Rathedaung and Pauktaw.

As the capital of Arakan State, Sittwe holds strategic and symbolic significance for the military regime, which has reinforced the city with additional troops and tightened security measures.