At least 5 security personnel were killed and 6 civilians injured in an armed attack on a checkpoint in Thailand's southern Narathiwat province.
According to preliminary reports, an armed group of approximately 10 people dressed in black arrived at the scene in a truck, a pickup truck, and on motorcycles. The attackers carried out a surprise assault on the checkpoint using automatic weapons and improvised explosive devices.
Thai authorities stated that the attackers seized weapons and ammunition belonging to security forces before fleeing the scene. Law enforcement agencies are currently continuing the search for those involved in the attack.
No armed group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.
It should be noted that Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani are Thailand's southernmost provinces and are considered the only regions in the country where the Muslim population is in the majority. Armed conflict between separatist groups and government forces has been ongoing in these areas since 2004. Thousands of people have lost their lives as a result of the long-standing conflict.