diff --git a/src/Parser/AssignOpTrait.php b/src/Parser/AssignOpTrait.php
index dabef684..745f9be2 100644
--- a/src/Parser/AssignOpTrait.php
+++ b/src/Parser/AssignOpTrait.php
@@ -42,11 +42,27 @@ trait AssignOpTrait
         $tmp = $this->genTmpVarName();
         $this->addLocalVar($tmp, Type::VAR);
 
+        // item(dim, true) updates an existing reference's value, while offsetSet()
+        // replaces the array bucket and breaks the reference. Keep offsetSet() for
+        // ArrayAccess objects; dynamically typed/reference containers need a
+        // runtime array check because either representation is possible.
+        $arrayType = $this->getVarType($array);
+
         if ($left->dim === null) {
             return $code . '((' . $tmp . ' = ' . $value . ', ' . "{$array}.offsetSet(" . self::VALUE_NULL . ", {$tmp})" . '), ' . $tmp . ')';
         }
         $dim = $this->parseIdentifier($left->dim);
 
+        if ($arrayType === Type::ARRAY) {
+            return $code . '((' . $tmp . ' = ' . $value . ', ' . "{$array}.item({$dim}, true) = {$tmp}" . '), ' . $tmp . ')';
+        }
+        if ($arrayType === Type::VAR || $arrayType === Type::REF) {
+            $writeArray = "static_cast<void>({$array}.item({$dim}, true) = {$tmp})";
+            $writeOther = "{$array}.offsetSet({$dim}, {$tmp})";
+            return $code . '((' . $tmp . ' = ' . $value . ', '
+                . "({$array}.isArray() ? {$writeArray} : {$writeOther})"
+                . '), ' . $tmp . ')';
+        }
         return $code . '((' . $tmp . ' = ' . $value . ', ' . "{$array}.offsetSet({$dim}, {$tmp})" . '), ' . $tmp . ')';
     }
 
@@ -746,6 +762,9 @@ trait AssignOpTrait
         }
 
         $left = $this->parseWritableIdentifier($expr->var);
+        // Keep this write-context form for every RHS kind. Re-parsing it as a
+        // read later breaks append and missing-key targets such as
+        // `$array[] =& $source`.
 
         if ($this->isVarExpr($expr->var)) {
             if (!$this->hasVar($left)) {
@@ -822,13 +841,10 @@ trait AssignOpTrait
                 }
             }
         } elseif ($this->isPropertyFetch($expr->expr)) {
-            $left = $this->parseIdentifier($expr->var);
             $rightExpr = $tmpVar . ' = ' . $this->emitDynamicPropertyFetchRef($expr->expr, $expr);
         } elseif ($this->isStaticPropertyFetch($expr->expr)) {
-            $left = $this->parseIdentifier($expr->var);
             $rightExpr = $tmpVar . ' = ' . $this->emitStaticPropertyFetchRef($expr->expr, $expr);
         } elseif ($this->isArrayDimFetch($expr->expr)) {
-            $left = $this->parseIdentifier($expr->var);
             $array = $this->parseWritableIdentifier($expr->expr->var);
             if ($expr->expr->dim == null) {
                 $this->fatalError($expr, 'Cannot assign reference to array dim fetch without dim');
diff --git a/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-001.phpt b/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-001.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3273f29e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-001.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+--TEST--
+array reference assignment: append and element assignment write back through reference
+--FILE--
+<?php
+function main()
+{
+    $arr1 = [1, 2, 3];
+    $arr2 = [&$arr1[0]];
+    $arr2[0] = 123;
+    $arr2[] = &$arr1[1];
+    $arr2[1] = 456;
+    var_dump($arr1, $arr2);
+}
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+array(3) {
+  [0]=>
+  &int(123)
+  [1]=>
+  &int(456)
+  [2]=>
+  int(3)
+}
+array(2) {
+  [0]=>
+  &int(123)
+  [1]=>
+  &int(456)
+}
diff --git a/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-002.phpt b/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-002.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac441ca0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-002.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+--TEST--
+array reference assignment to element: $arr[$k] = &$v writes back through reference
+--FILE--
+<?php
+class RefSource
+{
+    public $value = 30;
+    public static $staticValue = 40;
+}
+
+function main()
+{
+    $x = 10;
+    $y = 20;
+    $arr = [1, 2, 3];
+    $arr[0] = &$x;   // 覆盖已有元素为引用
+    $arr[5] = &$y;   // 新建元素为引用
+    $x = 100;
+    $y = 200;
+    var_dump($arr[0], $arr[5]); // 100, 200
+
+    // 通过元素引用写回
+    $arr[0] = 111;
+    $arr[5] = 222;
+    var_dump($x, $y); // 111, 222
+
+    // 嵌套：引用赋值到多维数组元素
+    $z = 7;
+    $m = [[1], [2]];
+    $m[0][0] = &$z;
+    $z = 77;
+    var_dump($m[0][0]); // 77
+
+    // 左侧数组追加/元素写入不可因右侧是属性引用而被重新按读取解析
+    $source = new RefSource();
+    $propertyRefs = [];
+    $propertyRefs[] = &$source->value;
+    $propertyRefs[2] = &RefSource::$staticValue;
+    $propertyRefs[0] = 333;
+    $propertyRefs[2] = 444;
+    var_dump($source->value, RefSource::$staticValue);
+}
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+int(100)
+int(200)
+int(111)
+int(222)
+int(77)
+int(333)
+int(444)
diff --git a/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-003.phpt b/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-003.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6e9f8ca4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compiler/ref/array-ref-assign-003.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+--TEST--
+dynamically typed array element assignment preserves references and ArrayAccess writes
+--FILE--
+<?php
+function writeElement(mixed $container, mixed $key, mixed $value): void
+{
+    $container[$key] = $value;
+}
+
+function writeReferencedContainer(mixed &$container, mixed $value): void
+{
+    $container[0] = $value;
+}
+
+function main()
+{
+    $referenced = 10;
+    $array = [&$referenced];
+    writeElement($array, 0, 123);
+    var_dump($referenced, $array[0]);
+
+    $referencedAgain = 20;
+    $arrayByReference = [&$referencedAgain];
+    writeReferencedContainer($arrayByReference, 234);
+    var_dump($referencedAgain, $arrayByReference[0]);
+
+    $object = new ArrayObject();
+    writeElement($object, 'key', 456);
+    var_dump($object['key']);
+}
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+int(123)
+int(123)
+int(234)
+int(234)
+int(456)