Fierce clashes erupted between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Sittwe on 27 March, marking a significant escalation in the battle for the Rakhine State capital.
Local sources reported two distinct encounters at the Shwe Min Gan Port along the Kaladan River, a critical logistics hub used by the junta to transport troops and supplies. The first exchange began around 6:00 am near Shwe Min Gan, Yeyoepyin, and Malaung villages, followed by a second, more intense clash at 8:00 am involving heavy weaponry.
While official casualty figures remain unconfirmed, the Arakan Army has reportedly been leveraging its positions on neighbouring islands to launch land-and-water assaults against the base, which is currently reinforced by as many as seven warships and ten military battalions.
The renewed violence in Sittwe follows a month of sustained conflict that has seen the Arakan Army advance to within one mile of the city centre. Earlier in March, intense fighting reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 30 naval personnel, with injured soldiers being treated at the 100-bed hospital and the No. 8 Field Medical Battalion in Sittwe.
To defend this final major urban stronghold in northern Rakhine, the junta has amassed approximately 2,000 infantry and 1,000 naval troops, supported by allied militias and armoured vehicle deployments. Residents within the city report near-constant sounds of artillery and drone strikes, particularly during the night, as the military utilizes Police Battalion 12 and offshore vessels to shell surrounding resistance-held areas.
Beyond the capital, the Arakan Army is maintaining high-pressure offensives on two other major fronts in Kyaukphyu and Ngape townships.
