Thai authorities have imposed martial law in Narathiwat Province in southern Thailand following an armed insurgent attack on a security outpost that killed five paramilitary personnel, according to Thai PBS World, as cited by Anadolu.
The order was issued on Thursday, July 24, 2026, by the commander of the special task force in Narathiwat, Major General Yod-Arwut Phuengpak, in response to the attack on a security checkpoint in Ra-ngae that took place on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, which also injured six civilians.
Under the directive, security forces are authorized to establish road checkpoints, search vehicles and homes suspected of being linked to insurgent activities, and detain individuals believed to be involved.
Military personnel are also authorized to use force when necessary and in proportion to the threat they face.
The military will assume responsibility for maintaining peace and public order throughout Narathiwat Province, while civilian officials and local government personnel responsible for security affairs will operate under military command.
The four southern provinces of Thailand, including Narathiwat, are home to a large Malay Muslim population and were historically part of the Patani Kingdom.
The insurgency in the region is rooted in long-standing ethnic and cultural tensions between the Malay Muslim community in southern Thailand and the country’s central government, where Buddhism functions as the de facto national religion.***
