Junta troops take positions in Saw

By Admin 14 May 2026

DMG Newsroom

14 May 2026, Saw, Magway Region

A 300-strong junta contingent entered Saw, a town on the border of Chin State and Magway Region, at around 10 a.m. on May 14 and took up positions across the town.

The junta contingent departed from the regime’s Weapons Factory No. 25 in Laungshae Town with 17 military vehicles on May 12. The troops stayed overnight in Taung Boh Gyi and Theegon villages before entering Saw on Thursday.

Local residents of Saw are currently fleeing their homes due to fears that fighting could break out.

“At the moment, residents from areas the junta troops passed through are fleeing. We do not yet know if any locals have been arrested by junta soldiers,” a local man in Saw said.

On May 13, the junta column took up security positions at houses in Theegon Village, Phayargon Village, and along the entrance and exit routes of the villages. Residents also reported that junta troops consumed food supplies belonging to civilians in Theegon Village.

The junta column was involved in clashes with revolutionary forces on the night of May 13 and is now stationed in Saw.

“The junta contingent had an encounter with revolutionary forces last night. The regime force has now entered and taken positions in Saw. We are monitoring whether this junta column will join forces with the Saw garrison or continue toward Kyaukhtu Town,” the local man added.

Analysts suggest that the regime’s deployment and military presence in the Yaw region are intended to threaten the southern Chin State frontline.

Military observers also believe the regime forces may be advancing toward Kyaukhtu Town with the objective of launching an offensive in the Mindat area of Chin State.

Captain Zin Yaw, who participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement, said: “The main goal of the regime forces appears to be advancing toward the Paletwa area in southern Chin State. The regime plans to control Mindat before the end of the rainy season. I believe they intend to open a frontline toward Paletwa through Matupi after the rainy season.”

He added: “Although fighting is taking place across Arakan State, northern Paletwa remains a strategic territory for both sides. Whoever controls the Paletwa region will be in a position to fully govern Arakan State. Both the military and the Arakan Army are well aware of this.”

Captain Zin Yaw further noted that due to major communication and transportation limitations in southern Chin State, the Arakan Army is in a stronger position while fighting defensively than the military, which is conducting offensives.

Saw is an important trade route for Arakan State. At the end of April, the military also took control of and stationed troops in Kangyi Village, located at the Mindat-Kyaukhtu junction, 19 miles from Saw and 12 miles from Mindat.

According to a report by local news outlet Yaw Alinn Tan, troops stationed in Kangyi Village fired small arms on the evening of May 13 and have been moving back and forth to the base in Kyaukhtu.

The regime is reportedly supplying ammunition and other provisions by air to the junta’s Artillery Battalion No. 368 in Kyaukhtu. Yaw Alinn Tan also urged residents to remain alert for possible airstrikes due to drone activity from the Kyaukhtu side.