Junta commander comforts wounded soldiers in Sittwe

By Admin 04 Apr 2026

DMG Newsroom

4 April 2026, Sittwe

Maj-Gen Kyaw Swar Oo, commander of the Western Command in Sittwe, Arakan State, visited officers and soldiers receiving medical treatment in the city.

According to a report in the junta-controlled Myanmar Alin daily on April 4, the commander offered words of encouragement to soldiers and their family members receiving treatment at military hospitals in Sittwe, a city located in the conflict zone.

The commander and other officials also provided food supplies and cash rewards to the soldiers after offering words of encouragement.

A young military observer in Arakan State said, “This is not surprising. Since Sittwe is the regime’s last stronghold in Arakan State, they will have to defend it desperately. I view this as a way of providing small comforts and incentives to the deceased and the wounded. It also serves as a way to encourage their troops to fight to the death following the recent intense battles.”

In the last week of March, heavy fighting involving artillery and airstrikes broke out between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military in Sittwe Township, resulting in casualties on the junta side.

The state-owned daily subsequently reported that the commander inspected the wounded junta soldiers currently receiving treatment at the military hospital.

Ground sources said both sides exchanged heavy artillery fire throughout the day on March 26, and some officers were killed when shells exploded at certain military positions.

On March 27, the regime carried out airstrikes on Ponnagyun and Rathedaung Townships.

A Sittwe resident said that it is currently quiet in Sittwe with no firing from either side and no sounds of explosions. He mentioned that it is unclear if this is because the Thingyan festival is approaching, but noted that it is impossible to predict when the firing might resume.

Battles in Sittwe have been ongoing since early 2025, with periods of intensity and temporary pauses. Residents say that the conflict in Sittwe consists more of daily exchanges of artillery and drone fire rather than ground offensives.

In Myanmar, daily clashes between junta troops and ethnic armed organizations are occurring in Arakan and Kachin States, as well as Sagaing and Bago Regions.

The April 4 issue of the Myanmar Alin daily reported that military commanders provided food supplies to wounded personnel receiving treatment at military hospitals in conflict areas such as Sittwe, Myitkyina, Monywa, and Taungoo.