Five soldiers were killed after armed assailants launched a deadly attack on a security checkpoint in Thailand's southern Narathiwat province, opening fire with automatic weapons and hurling pipe bombs at security personnel, the Royal Thai Army's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) said on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Center of the ISOC Region 4 Forward Command, the attack occurred on the evening of July 22 at the Bukeh Sami security checkpoint in the Tanjong Mas Subdistrict Municipality of Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat province. At the time of the assault, personnel from the 45th Ranger Forces Regiment were performing routine security duties as part of ongoing efforts to maintain peace and public safety in Thailand's southern border region.
The attackers reportedly launched a coordinated assault, firing multiple rounds at the checkpoint before throwing pipe bombs at the security personnel stationed there. The intensity of the attack left five members of the security forces dead at the scene.
The soldiers who lost their lives were identified as Sergeant Major First Class Teerayut Somakerd, Ranger Volunteer Wimol Dabthong, Ranger Volunteer Nattasit Kaewsena, Ranger Volunteer Solahuding Pi, and Ranger Volunteer Zakariya Je-na.
Expressing deep sorrow over the deaths, the ISOC Region 4 Forward Command paid tribute to the fallen personnel, describing them as dedicated officers who had made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out their duty to protect the lives and property of residents in Thailand's southern border provinces.
"The fallen personnel made the ultimate sacrifice while faithfully performing their mission to safeguard the people and maintain peace in the region," the command said in its statement, extending condolences to the families of the victims and pledging continued support for them.
Following the attack, Thai security agencies immediately launched a large-scale manhunt to trace the perpetrators. Investigators tracked the suspected escape route of the attackers and later discovered a vehicle believed to have been used during the assault in Si Sakhon district of Narathiwat province.
According to ISOC, the vehicle had been deliberately set on fire by the assailants, apparently in an attempt to destroy forensic evidence and hinder the investigation.
"The vehicle was found burned by the assailants in an attempt to destroy evidence," the command said in an update, adding that forensic teams were dispatched to both the attack site and the location where the vehicle was recovered.
Authorities collected ballistic evidence, explosive residue, fingerprints, and other forensic material to assist investigators in identifying those responsible for the deadly attack. Officials said the evidence would be used to support criminal prosecutions once the suspects are apprehended.
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Security forces have also intensified patrols and established additional checkpoints across Narathiwat and nearby areas to prevent further attacks while reassuring local residents. ISOC said all relevant agencies, including the military, police, and local administrative authorities, are working in close coordination to track down the attackers and strengthen security across the region.
"All relevant agencies continue to coordinate their efforts to track down the assailants while enhancing security measures to ensure public safety and restore confidence," the command said. The authorities reiterated their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice, stressing that every effort would be made to identify, locate, and prosecute the perpetrators.
"The command affirms its commitment to accelerating efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them before the law," ISOC added. Thailand's southern border provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala have witnessed decades of separatist-related violence involving insurgent groups seeking greater autonomy for the predominantly Malay Muslim region. Despite periodic peace initiatives and enhanced security operations, attacks targeting security personnel, government installations, and civilians continue to occur, making the region one of the country's most volatile areas.
The latest attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing Thai authorities in the deep south and highlights the continuing threat posed by insurgent violence despite sustained counter-insurgency operations. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
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