The Arakan Army’s move into Ayeyarwaddy region reflects its growing confidence and strategic ambition, says Radio Free Asia, adding that since early January, the group has targeted military bases in bordering regions, including Ayeyarwaddy, Bago, and Magway.

The ethnic Rakhine rebel group, Arakan Army (AA), has seized a police station in the Ayeyarwaddy region, marking the first time it has captured territory in Myanmar’s central heartland since the military coup of 2021. This development signifies the group’s expanding operations beyond its traditional stronghold in Rakhine state, where it already controls nearly all townships.

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), the AA, supported by anti-junta People’s Defense Forces (PDF), captured the police station in Shwethaungyan sub-township, Pathein, on Thursday. The takeover occurred despite junta forces launching several airstrikes to defend the position. Residents reported that the military’s attempts to hold the station failed, leading to their retreat and leaving Ma Gyi Zin village and its surrounding areas under AA control.

The Radio Free Asia report sheds light on the growing reach of the Arakan Army and the junta’s struggles to maintain control, signalling a turning point in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war.

Junta Airstrikes and Civilian Impact

The junta retaliated with airstrikes targeting Ma Gyi Zin and nearby villages, including Pauk Taw Kwin and Ma Gyi Zin Pyar, resulting in significant destruction. A local resident, speaking anonymously for security reasons, described the situation as dire. He said, “Ma Gyi Zin, on the far side of Shwethaungyan, has fallen. The village is already on fire, and this is what’s happening in the Ayeyarwaddy region.”

The airstrikes have also reportedly destroyed schools, monasteries, and homes in Pone Nyat Maw and Ku Lar Chaung villages. While casualty numbers remain unclear, reports indicate civilian deaths and injuries, with many residents fleeing to safer areas in Chaungthar, Shwethaungyan, and Thabaung sub-townships.

Military reinforcements have been deployed near Baw Mi village in an attempt to stabilise the region, with “hundreds” of additional troops arriving from Thabaung sub-township, residents said. However, local authorities, including Ayeyarwaddy regional spokesperson and social affairs minister Khin Maung Kyi, have yet to acknowledge the ongoing conflict publicly.

Escalation Beyond Rakhine State

The AA’s move into Ayeyarwaddy region reflects its growing confidence and strategic ambition, says the Radio Free Asia report, adding that since early January, the group has targeted military bases in bordering regions, including Ayeyarwaddy, Bago, and Magway.

In late December, the AA captured Gwa, a coastal town in Rakhine state, signaling a critical step toward their goal of securing full control over Rakhine. Following the capture, the AA expressed willingness to engage in talks with the junta. However, the military responded with intensified airstrikes in AA-controlled townships, including Ponnagyun, Ann, Gwa, and Myebon. These attacks have killed 10 civilians and injured over a dozen, according to local sources.

The AA’s offensive in the Ayeyarwaddy region underscores the junta’s waning control over the country as the civil war enters its fourth year. Initially focused on defending Rakhine, the AA is now leveraging its gains to challenge the military in new territories.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

The escalating violence is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis across Myanmar. The displacement of civilians from Ma Gyi Zin and surrounding villages adds to the millions already affected by the ongoing conflict since the coup. Local communities face shortages of food, shelter, and medical care amid widespread destruction, the report says.

The junta’s airstrikes on civilian areas, including schools and monasteries, have drawn international condemnation. Rights groups have repeatedly called for accountability for the military’s actions, which they say amount to war crimes.

The Arakan Army’s latest actions signal a shift in Myanmar’s civil war, with ethnic armed groups like the AA pushing beyond their traditional territories. While the group’s success in Ayeyarwaddy highlights the military’s vulnerability, the junta’s response – marked by airstrikes and troop reinforcements – suggests that further clashes are imminent.

As the conflict deepens, prospects for peace remain uncertain. The AA’s willingness to negotiate is countered by the junta’s heavy-handed tactics, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire. Observers who the Radio Free Asia reporter spoke to, warned that without meaningful dialogue, Myanmar risks descending further into chaos.

Image: Logo of the Arakan Army; courtesy Wikimedia