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International Desk, May 31, 2025 : A senior Myanmar junta general was killed in intense fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) near Kyaukphyu, a strategically vital port city in Rakhine State, as the rebel group continues its push to seize control of the area. The conflict, centered around the Chinese-backed Kyaukphyu deep-sea port, has seen the Arakan Army capture multiple junta positions.
According to local media reports, heavy clashes are ongoing near Piyain Si Kai village along the Kyaukphyu-Ramree road, just 5 kilometers south of Kyaukphyu. The Arakan Army has surrounded a junta headquarters in the area, escalating the conflict. Fighting has also been reported near China’s oil and gas terminal in the region.
On May 26, Brigadier General Kyaw Myo Aung, a strategist from the junta’s 11th Division, and a military captain were killed in a sniper attack by the Arakan Army. The 45-year-old general’s body was airlifted to Yangon, where his funeral took place on Thursday at the Mingaladon military cemetery, according to family sources.
The junta has deployed its army, navy, and air force to defend Kyaukphyu, but the situation is reportedly slipping out of their control. The Irrawaddy, citing Rakhine media, reported that Chinese private security personnel involved in the Belt and Road Initiative are assisting the junta with drone strikes against the Arakan Army, though these claims could not be independently verified.
In February 2025, Myanmar’s junta passed a law allowing Chinese security forces to carry weapons to protect their investments in the country, leading to an increased presence of Chinese personnel in Kyaukphyu. The port is a critical component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, providing Beijing direct access to the Indian Ocean through a deep-sea port and an oil and gas pipeline extending to Yunnan province.
As fighting intensifies, many junta administrators are reportedly fleeing Kyaukphyu. Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has captured 14 of Rakhine’s 17 townships and parts of southern Chin State’s Paletwa region. The group is now attempting to seize Sittwe, the state capital. In response, the junta has conducted airstrikes on AA-controlled areas, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The Arakan Army has also expanded its influence beyond Rakhine into Magwe, Bago, and Ayeyarwady regions this year.
AI/MR
