Reinforcements sent to Rakhine State’s Kyaukphyu
Sources on the frontline in Arakan State told DVB that the regime in Naypyidaw has sent reinforcements to its Police Battalion 32 and Danyawaddy Naval Base in Kyaukphyu Township this month in response to the offensive launched by the Arakan Army (AA), which began in February. The AA began its attack on Police Battalion 32, which is located three miles (4.8 km) outside of Kyaukphyu town, on June 9.
“Regime troops launched a counteroffensive with fire support from military vessels and drones. Both sides are caught in a push-and-pull struggle,” a source with knowledge of the fighting told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The port town of Kyaukphyu is located 317 miles (510 km) south of the state capital Sittwe.
Kyaukphyu residents told DVB that the regime has tightened security in the town, with no one allowed to enter or leave since May, causing food shortages. The AA has taken control of 14 Arakan townships, as well as Paletwa Township in southern Chinland, since it launched its most recent offensive on Nov. 13, 2023. Along with Sittwe and Kyaukphyu, the island of Manaung remains under regime control.
Counteroffensive begins in Tanintharyi Region
The Karen National Union (KNU) announced that the regime launched a counteroffensive near Theinkhun village of Tanintharyi Township, located along the Tanintharyi-Mawtaung road, on June 28. Tanintharyi residents told DVB that regime forces launched attacks in the first week of June, which led to clashes with a KNU splinter group called the Kawthoolei Army (KTLA).
“Both the regime and our [KTLA forces] allowed access to the road until June 1. But when [regime forces] began mobilizing troops in the first week of June, we had to respond [militarily],” a KTLA spokesperson told DVB. The Tanintharyi-Mawtaung road spans 69 miles (111 km) and connects Tanintharyi town to Mawtaung town on the Burma-Thailand border.
Residents of Palaw Township told DVB that regime forces have been stationed in Taung Khaunglong village since June 14. A source told DVB that the village is vital for the regime’s logistics as it has a jetty, and is also a hub to gather new recruits from other villages in the Khanti village-tract. Palaw is located 98 miles (157 km) south of the region’s capital Dawei.
One civilian killed in airstrike on Mandalay Region
A woman was killed and three homes were destroyed in an airstrike carried out by the Burma Air Force on Letpanhla village of Singu Township in Mandalay Region on Sunday. The town came under the control of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) in July 2024. Singu is located along the Mandalay-Mogok road, 57 miles (91 km) north of the region’s capital Mandalay.
“The military has repeatedly bombed the village because it is controlled by the PDF and has gold mining businesses. But every time there are airstrikes, civilians have been either killed or injured,” a Letpanhla resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The PDF in Mandalay seized Singu one year ago. It has been under the National Unity Government (NUG) administration since then.
A PDF member in Singu told DVB that a Burma Air Force fighter jet from Tada-U airbase carried out the airstrike on June 29. The PDF urges all civilians to prepare for more airstrikes and attacks by regime forces. More than 27 civilians, including six children, were reportedly killed and another 30 were injured by airstrikes on a market in Letpanhla on March 14.
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—Sources close to the regime’s General Administration Department in Pathein Township told DVB that authorities are planning to replace most ward and village administrators with militia members, or military veterans, sometime this week.
“Only administrators who could offer bribes of 10 million MMK [$2,192 USD] or more will remain [in their positions],” a former administrator, who worked under the regime for two years following the 2021 military coup, told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Read more
BAGO—The PDF in Phyu Township told DVB that it killed at least 10 regime troops during fighting in Phyu on Sunday. It reported that one PDF member was also killed. Phyu is located 100 miles (160 km) north of the region’s capital Bago.
A PDF spokesperson added that four civilians were also killed by airstrikes during the fighting between regime and resistance forces. The PDF warned residents to keep a safe distance from regime troops and be alert for more retaliatory airstrikes.
MANDALAY—The PDF told DVB that one civilian was killed and six others were injured by airstrikes in Ngazun Township on Saturday. No fighting between PDF and regime forces was reported in the town. Ngazun is located 44 miles (71 km) west of Mandalay.
The PDF launched simultaneous offensives on regime outposts in Myingyan, Natogyi, Taungtha and Ngazun townships of Myingyan District on May 15. It warned residents to dig trenches and to also be alert for more retaliatory airstrikes.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,560 MMK)
