Five Thai soldiers were killed and six civilians injured after attackers carried out a shooting and bomb attack at a security checkpoint in Thailand’s insurgency-hit southern province of Narathiwat, authorities said. The incident is among the deadliest attacks reported in the region in recent years, highlighting the continued security challenges faced by Thailand’s southern provinces. According to the Thai army, members of Task Force Ranger Regiment 45 were attacked while they were stationed at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint on Wednesday evening.

The attackers opened fire and threw pipe bombs at the checkpoint as soldiers were carrying out their duty of protecting local residents. Six civilians were also wounded in the attack, local officials said. The injured included a 10-year-old boy who suffered a leg injury, according to the Narathiwat provincial public relations department. Governor Boonchuay Homyamyen visited the injured at a hospital following the incident. Authorities said no group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, and no arrests have been made.

A screenshot from CCTV footage shared on the Facebook page of Narathiwat authorities appeared to show six suspects dressed in black travelling in a black pickup truck at around 6:45 pm on Wednesday. The suspects reportedly fled towards a neighbouring district after the attack, following which security forces sealed off the area and launched searches. Officials are investigating the incident and working to identify those responsible for the assault.

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Narathiwat is one of three Muslim-majority provinces in Thailand’s southern region that have witnessed a long-running separatist insurgency. The conflict, which began in 2004, has resulted in more than 7,000 deaths as armed groups have fought for greater autonomy from the Thai state. The southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat have experienced frequent attacks targeting security personnel, government officials and civilians over the past two decades. Despite peace efforts and negotiations between authorities and some rebel representatives, violence has continued intermittently.

The latest attack has renewed concerns over security conditions in the region, where military checkpoints remain a common feature due to the ongoing insurgency. Authorities have increased security measures while continuing investigations into the latest violence. The Thai government has previously said it remains committed to restoring peace in the southern provinces through both security operations and dialogue initiatives. However, repeated attacks continue to pose a challenge to efforts aimed at achieving long-term stability in the region.

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