At least three civilians were killed and three others were injured in military paramotor attacks and airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on two villages in Magway Region’s Mindon Township during fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and regime forces on Oct. 8-12.
A source in the AA told DVB that the regime counteroffensive in Magway’s Mindon is heading towards neighboring Arakan State’s Ann Township, which was seized by the AA in 2024. Mindon is located 90-121 miles (144-194 km) south and southeast of the region’s capital Magway and Arakan’s Ann.
The AA reported on Sept. 22 that fighting over control of the regime outpost No. 948 near Mindon’s Kankyo village continues. Residents of the village had fled their homes before the fighting began.
The source in the AA told DVB that the regime sent thousands of troops as reinforcements to Mindon in August to be able to launch its counteroffensive into Ann, 199 miles (320 km) southeast of the Arakan State capital Sittwe.
The AA and its allied resistance forces expanded its offensive into neighbouring Ayeyarwady, Bago and Magway regions in early 2025.
The frontline now includes Magway’s Mindon and Ngape townships, Ayeyarwady’s Ngathaingchaung Township, Bago’s Pandaung Township, Arakan’s Sittwe and Kyaukphyu townships, as well as southern Chin State.
A military convoy of 200 vehicles reportedly transporting weapons and three months worth of food rations arrived at the Directorate of Defence Industries (DDI) 25 in Magway’s Laung She town on Sept. 20.
In preparation for a regime counteroffensive from Magway’s Saw Township into neighboring Chin’s Kanpetlet Township, which was seized by the Chin Brotherhood—one of the two Chin resistance factions—in December 2024.
Since its establishment in late-2023, the Chin Brotherhood has received support from the AA to seize and hold several towns neighbouring Chin’s Paletwa, which was seized by the AA in January 2024.
The AA has seized control of 14 out of 17 Arakan townships, as well as Chin’s Paletwa Township, since it launched its most recent offensive on Nov. 13, 2023.
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