Four soldiers dead, six wounded in surprise attack on Narathiwat army base; army in pursuit

NARATHIWAT, Jan 20 – Insurgents carried out a surprise attack on an army unit in Narathiwat’s Rangae district Wednesday night, killing four soldiers–including an army company commander–and wounding six others.

The attack occurred just two days after the government extended its emergency decree in the three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, and only hours after Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha returned to Bangkok from a day-long visit in Pattani.

At least 40 men armed with military weapons assaulted on the Ror 15121 army outpost in Ban Marue Botok at 8pm last night, well after dark and during the camp’s evening meal.

The attackers initially attacked the rear of the unit, and government soldiers returned fire, with the exchange of gunfire lasting up to half an hour.

MCOT