Conflict & Security
Five Thai soldiers killed and six civilians wounded in southern checkpoint attack
Thailand's army said five Thai soldiers were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in the country's insurgency-hit south, in one of the deadliest such incidents in years.
Local officials said six civilians were also wounded in the Wednesday evening attack in Narathiwat province, one of three Muslim-majority provinces affected by a long-running separatist insurgency.
The army said members of Task Force Ranger Regiment 45 were on duty protecting local residents at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint when assailants opened fire and threw pipe bombs.
Narathiwat province's public relations department said no group had claimed responsibility and no arrests had been made.
The source says a low-level conflict has continued in Thailand's southernmost provinces since 2004, killing more than 7,000 people, as rebels in the Muslim-majority region fight for greater autonomy. Most attacks target security personnel.
The army paid tribute to the soldiers who were killed and said their service and sacrifice would be remembered.
Update
Six civilians were wounded in the attack, according to local officials.
Narathiwat province's public relations department said no group had claimed responsibility and no arrests had been made.
The source says more than 7,000 people have been killed in the low-level conflict in Thailand's southernmost provinces since 2004.
The army identified the dead soldiers as members of Task Force Ranger Regiment 45 and said they were protecting local residents at the checkpoint.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 02:52:44 UTC.
Update
The soldiers were killed on Wednesday evening.
The army said assailants opened fire and threw pipe bombs.
The attack took place at a checkpoint in Narathiwat province.
Narathiwat was described as one of three Muslim-majority provinces affected by a decades-long separatist insurgency.
The incident was described as one of the deadliest of its kind in years.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 02:18:11 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
No arrests have been made.
Source
AFP news report published on .