Southern Thailand Attack Kills 5 Soldiers Amidst Worsening Security

An attack on a checkpoint in Thailand's southern Narathiwat province has resulted in the deaths of at least five soldiers and injuries to six civilians. The Thai military described the incident as one of the deadliest human-cost attacks in recent years. The attack occurred on Wednesday night. Security camera footage reportedly shows six suspects dressed in black arriving in a pickup truck, carrying out a shooting and bombing at the checkpoint, and then fleeing into a nearby area. The Thai military stated that soldiers from the 45th Infantry Regiment were killed by attackers who fired guns and threw grenades at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint while they were on duty protecting local people. Six civilians were injured in the attack, including a 10-year-old boy. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, and no suspects have been arrested. The governor of Narathiwat province visited the injured at the hospital. Sporadic fighting has continued in Thailand's southern provinces since 2004, claiming the lives of over 7,000 people. Insurgents continue their struggle for greater autonomy in the region. In 2019, a bombing and shooting incident at a checkpoint in Yala province killed 15 people. Thai authorities claim that the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group was responsible for the 2019 attack. Human rights groups note that while attacks in southern Thailand are common, this latest incident is unusual due to the high number of casualties and the injury of a young person. Thailand's opposition leader expressed sorrow over the deaths and condemned the attack, calling on the government to resolve the issue urgently and bring the suspects to justice. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer