Intense fighting has erupted between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council forces at Nyaung Kyo camp, located along the Rakhine-Bago highway (Thandwe-Padaung road) at the foot of the Rakhine Yoma in Padaung Township, Bago Region. The AA is launching offensive operations against the Nyaung Kyo military camp, which is heavily fortified with artillery by the military council. In response, the military council has reinforced the position with hundreds of troops from the Hmawbi Township military command.
As the battles have intensified, military sources confirm that the military council has been forced to provide continuous air support due to heavy casualties on their side. AA forces launched this offensive after capturing Mount Mohtee along the Thandwe-Padaung road. During the fighting, Major Than Zaw Hein, age 36, from the military council side was confirmed killed. The military council has deployed three out of four of its infantry battalions – including Infantry Battalions 313, 701, 702, and 703 – to reinforce Nyaung Kyo.
The Nyaung Kyo military camp is located about 10 miles from the Nyaung Chaythauk Factory 6, which has also been reinforced with additional troops from Yangon and Bago. According to military sources in Naypyidaw, more than 600 new recruits from Training Batch 8, gathered from across the country, have been deployed to Factory 6. In Bago Region, there are several military factories including Factory 6, Factory 9 (Kyauktaga), Factory 5 (Kyamein), Factory 16 (Mathon), and Factory 3 (Sinthe) across the river from Pyay.
The military council forces are mounting defensive operations from Nyaung Chaythauk, Ohsitpin, and Factory 6 to prevent the fall of Nyaung Kyo camp. Meanwhile, AA forces are also conducting offensive operations against military council positions near Sittwe city in Rakhine State and some military outposts near the Danyawaddy Naval Base in Kyaukphyu Township. The ongoing multi-front offensive by the AA represents a significant challenge to military council control in both Rakhine State and the western portions of Bago Region.
