Hundreds of Militants Killed in Clashes With AA; Bangladesh Border Guard Detains 53

News January 12, 2026

Hundreds of members of the militant Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) were reportedly killed during intense clashes near Kyee Kyun along the Arakan–Bangladesh border, while nearly 200 others fled across the frontier into Bangladesh, according to local and security sources.

The fighting erupted on the morning of January 11 when ARSA, alongside allied groups ARA and RIM, launched coordinated attacks on positions held by the Arakan Army (AA). The assaults were met with a strong counteroffensive by the AA, which reportedly deployed both heavy and light weapons, resulting in heavy casualties among ARSA fighters.

Members of militant groups detained by the BGB (Photo credit)

Sources said that, unable to withstand sustained AA fire, an estimated nearly 200 ARSA members crossed the border and fled into Bangladesh in a disorderly retreat.

Local residents reported that many of those who fled were wounded and were later seen receiving treatment at clinics operated by international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) as well as at Cox’s Bazar Government Hospital. Others are believed to have gone into hiding inside refugee camps in the area.

Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has confirmed, according to multiple media reports, that 53 ARSA members were arrested along the Kyee Kyun border area following the clashes.

Members of the militant groups (Photocrd)

The violence also affected local civilians. During the fighting, gunfire attributed to ARSA seriously injured a 10-year-old schoolgirl from the Waikyaung area. In response, local Muslim residents blocked a main road and staged protests, demanding the immediate removal of militant groups from their communities.

“These militants are setting up camps in our fish and shrimp ponds and firing at the AA from there. Their actions put our lives at risk,” local residents said, urging political leaders and armed forces to swiftly clear the area of armed groups.

Meanwhile, concerns over border security are growing, as local sources warn that a number of militants may have crossed into Bangladesh and blended into refugee camps, raising fears of further instability along the border.

Source@arkanbaynews