New Western Command chief visits wounded junta soldiers as fighting intensifies in Arakan

By Admin 06 Jun 2026

DMG Newsroom

6 June 2026, Sittwe

The newly appointed commander of the Western Command, Maj-Gen Kyaw Soe, and other military officials visited wounded junta soldiers receiving treatment for injuries sustained in recent clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu townships, according to local sources.

An official junta statement said the commander and his team visited a military hospital in the Arakan State capital of Sittwe on June 5. During the visit, they provided food supplies and cash assistance to wounded soldiers undergoing treatment.

"With intense fighting taking place around Sittwe in recent days, this visit appears to be an effort to boost troop morale. He went to encourage the soldiers because the hospitals are currently treating a large number of wounded personnel," a local resident said.

Maj-Gen Kyaw Soe recently took over command of the Western Command from his predecessor, Maj-Gen Kyaw Swar Oo. He is now overseeing the military regime's operations in Arakan State.

Heavy fighting continues near Sittwe, where junta battalions have relied heavily on artillery shelling and airstrikes in an effort to defend their positions.

"Wounded junta soldiers from the frontlines are being treated not only at the military hospital but also at Sittwe General Hospital. The number of casualties indicates that the junta is suffering significant losses in the fighting around Sittwe," a local source told DMG.

The intensity of the fighting has also forced the regime to transfer wounded soldiers from battle zones in neighboring Kyaukphyu Township to Sittwe for medical treatment.

In a related development, military officials also visited a medical battalion under the Southwestern Command in Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region. During the visit, they offered words of encouragement and distributed food supplies and cash assistance to wounded soldiers receiving treatment there.