Shooting in Narathiwat and pipe bomb thrown at Bukhe Sami checkpoint. Anutin orders Army Chief of Staff to urgently go south after 5 rangers killed and a child injured, calling the attack extremely brazen and demanding decisive action to restore public confidence.
At 11:30 a.m. on 23 July 2026 GMT+7. General Chaipruk Duangprapat. The Army Chief of Staff (Army Chief) and Secretary-General of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) received orders from Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul. In his capacity as Director of Internal Security Operations Command (Director of ISOC), he was ordered to urgently travel to Narathiwat province to monitor and assess the situation, and coordinate security operations with relevant agencies following an attack by assailants who fired weapons and threw pipe bombs at the Bukhe Sami checkpoint. This occurred within the municipal area of Tanyongmas Subdistrict, Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat province, resulting in five rangers killed and two civilians injured, one of whom was a 10-year-old boy.
At 11:40 a.m., Anutin gave an interview at the Government House about the attack, stating the situation is very serious. He instructed all security agencies, especially the military, police, and local administration, that they must take action and demonstrate greater effectiveness in all areas including prevention, suppression, and intelligence. He added that he had discussed this with the responsible agencies on 22 July and they have accepted and are implementing the directives.
. When asked if there was an assessment on why the attack occurred at this time, Anutin said these people are unpredictable. What must be done is to prevent such violence from happening. He said he has clearly instructed those responsible for security agencies that if violence like this continues, the public will worry. All aspects must be addressed, including negotiations, which must advance more and be clearer. Reinforcements have been sent, and readiness must improve. This attack was very brazen.
The Prime Minister added that the response must be decisive. He ordered all measures to restore public confidence and create peace, preventing similar incidents from happening again, and that every process must achieve this goal. When asked why intelligence did not warn of the planned attack, Anutin said today the Minister of Defense will visit the area and expedite discussions. Regarding whether there are additional points requiring special surveillance, the Prime Minister said all points are under close watch, with his orders to enforce strict measures because such incidents have become frequent.