Arakan Army Launches Major Assault on Sittwe Naval Base — 30–40 Junta Troops Killed

On March 23, the Arakan Army launched a major coordinated assault on the Shwe Min Gan Naval Base near Sittwe at approximately 09:00 local time, using heavy weapons and snipers attacking from Zawmatat and Ye Yoe Pyin villages across the river. In fighting that continued into March 24, an estimated 30–40 junta soldiers were killed at the base (which held approximately 80 personnel). AA fighters advanced to within 2 km of Sittwe city center, the Rakhine State capital and one of the last significant SAC holdouts in the state. The Shwe Min Gan Naval Base assault was coordinated with simultaneous AA attacks on Ann Township and Ngape Township — demonstrating multi-axis pressure on remaining SAC positions in Rakhine. The junta's Western Regional Military Command, already relocated from Ann (captured December 2024), faces near-encirclement at Sittwe.