Five soldiers killed in southern Thailand attack | Articles of Controversy

The attack in Narathiwat happened a day after another car bomb in the province injured a police officer.

Five Thai soldiers have been killed and six civilians wounded in an attack on a security checkpoint in the country’s insurgent-infested south, according to the military.

The attack took place on Wednesday evening at Buketa Sami village in Narathiwat district.

Militants used rifles and pipe bombs to attack members of Task Force Ranger Regiment 45 while patrolling the area, the military said. Neither party has claimed responsibility, and authorities have not announced any arrests.

The army paid tribute to the soldiers, saying that “their service and sacrifice will be remembered and honored with great respect”.

The attack was one of the deadliest attacks on Thailand’s security forces in recent years and comes amid renewed concern over violence in the country’s southern provinces.

The attack came a day after a car bomb exploded outside the former Tanyong police station in Narathiwat, injuring a police officer and destroying the building.

Police are searching for two people suspected of fleeing on a motorcycle after Tuesday’s blast. This was the first car bombing in the southern region this year, according to the Thai newspaper The Nation.

Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala districts are mainly inhabited by Malay Muslims and have been at the center of the armed separatist war since 2004. More than 7,000 people have been killed, including civilians, defenders and fighters.

Permanent talks between the Thai government and Barisan Revolusi Nasional, the main separatist group, are expected to resume in June after an escalation of violence. The talks have focused on resolving disputes over self-governance, security measures and political representation.