Monthly Report | August 2025

Fire from Sky and Sea: Junta Strikes Devastate Kyaukphyu and Mrauk-U

Monitoring of a brief situation of political tension, economic issues, social issues, and humanitarian issues in Western Myanmar in April 2025.

About report

This report is part of the CAS's monthly series, which delves into four key areas of the state of Arakan. The first section addresses political concerns, including the armed revolution, junta activities, and issues of political freedom. The second examines the state's economic climate, focusing on rising prices, declining demand, foreign direct investment, and border trade. The third and fourth sections cover social and humanitarian issues, respectively; these include education, health, migration, and the internally displaced persons (IDP) population.

Key data in the report are sourced from local media outlets, such as DMG, Western News, among others. The aim of this report is to shed new light on the situation for observers endeavoring to comprehend the dynamics at play in the region.

Executive Summary

Junta airstrikes and naval attacks in Kyaukphyu and Mrauk-U killed civilians, including 14 in Mrauk- U, displacing over 50,000 in Kyaukphyu by August 30. The Arakan Army (AA) clashed with junta forces, seized territories, and faced accusations of detaining fishermen and targeting Rohingya. Violence forced villagers to flee Kyaukphyu and Ponnagyun, with markets closing in AA areas. Cross-border tensions rose with ARSA attacks on AA outposts and junta claims of AA’s external links, which AA denied.

High medical costs and joblessness hit Kyauktaw, Gwa, and Thandwe, with a junta fishing ban hurting Kyaukphyu fishermen. Floods destroyed rice fields, and the India-Arakan trade route closure stranded merchants. Rising fuel prices drove solar system use, and border towns increasingly used foreign currencies. AA’s income tax in Maungdaw and junta’s strict Sittwe screenings further strained economies.

The AA launched midwifery training and education plans but faced opposition to junta elections in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu. Human trafficking saw Arakanese women sold in China, while crime spurred Kyauktaw neighborhood watches. Free medical clinics operated in Thandwe and Ponnagyun, and women’s training was held in Maungdaw. The Rakhine Nationalities Party began its election campaign amid AA’s ban on teen tobacco and alcohol sales in Paletwa.

Famine in Sittwe led to deaths and state aid of Ks762.96 million, while 57% of central Arakan families faced food shortages. Floods killed 21, affected 40,000, and destroyed 20,000 acres of paddy fields. The UN accused the junta of blocking aid, with over 200 Rohingya stranded on Naf River and others fleeing to Bangladesh. Dengue outbreaks in Maungdaw and UNICEF’s concerns over child victims in Mrauk-U worsened the crisis.

Key Developments

A - Politics and Armed Conflicts

B - Economic Situations

C - Social Issues

D - Humanitarian Issues

A - Politics and Armed Conflicts

1. Resumption of Intense Fighting in Kyaukphyu

Fighting resumed in Kyaukphyu after a period of calm, escalating with junta airstrikes, naval bombardments, and drone attacks. On August 15, clashes intensified as junta forces reinforced their positions. A drone attack on August 17 Killed two internally displaced persons (IDPs) and wounded five others, while over 30 civilian casualties were reported in six months of junta attacks in Kyaukphyu Township. These events highlight the ongoing violence and its severe impact on civilians.

2. Junta Airstrikes and Civilian Casualties in Mrauk-U

A remnant bomb blast in Mrauk-U on August 5 killed a three-year-old and injured four others. Overnight junta bombings targeted Mrauk-U, Kyaukphyu, and Rathedaung on August 9. On August 27, a junta airstrike on a Mrauk-U neighborhood resulted in 14 civilian deaths, drawing strong condemnation from the Rakhine State Students’ Union. These incidents underscore the junta’s indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas.

3. Arakan Army’s (AA) Actions and Allegations of Human Rights Violations

The AA faced accusations of human rights abuses, including the alleged unlawful detention of 23 fishermen in Maungdaw (August 9) and targeting Rohingya communities in Maungdaw and Buthidaung (August 22). On August 11, the AA accused the junta of killing over 900 civilians in the Arakan conflict. Reports also emerged of the AA detaining Bangladeshi fishermen for illegal fishing (August 13, 26, 28) and seizing ARSA military gear in Maungdaw (August 19). These events reflect the complex dynamics of the AA’s operations and regional tensions.

General Overview

In August 2025, Rakhine State saw escalated conflict with Myanmar's junta launching airstrikes and naval attacks in Kyaukphyu and Mrauk-U, causing significant civilian casualties, including 14 deaths in a Mrauk-U airstrike. The Arakan Army (AA) clashed with junta forces, seized territories, and faced accusations of human rights abuses against Rohingya and detaining Bangladeshi fishermen. The junta’s election preparations in select townships were opposed by the AA, which rejected elections in its controlled areas. Cross-border tensions rose with Bangladeshi fishing incursions and ARSA attacks on AA outposts.

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