YALA: A suspect wanted in connection with the 2019 Lam Phaya attack, which killed 15 people, has been killed in a clash with security forces in Yala, southern Thailand, according to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).
ISOC’s Region 4 Forward Command reported on Nov 9, 2026, that the man died during a security operation conducted from Nov 7 to 9 in the forested hills of Than To district. All security personnel were unharmed, while an unspecified number of other suspected militants escaped.
The operation involved Yala’s joint special operations unit and local security agencies searching for suspected militant shelters and hideouts around Ban Kampong Baru, a smaller settlement within Ban Khok Chang, Moo 7, in Mae Wat subdistrict.
According to the command’s account, armed group members opened fire on personnel conducting a patrol, prompting an exchange of gunfire.
Officers subsequently examined the scene and recovered two firearms: an M16 rifle and a handgun.
Authorities identified the dead man as Saudee, 48, whose surname was withheld. He was from Moo 3 in Bannang Sata subdistrict, Bannang Sata district, Yala.
The command described him as an operational member of a militant group who had previously served as an instructor in military tactics. It reported that he was wanted on three arrest warrants in security-related cases.
The earliest warrant, No. 198/58, was issued under the Criminal Procedure Code on June 20, 2015, in connection with the killing and beheading of Nikhom Chapo, a man from Chiang Mai.
The attack took place on April 7, 2013, at Ban Bua Thong, Moo 2, in Ban Rae subdistrict, Than To district. The attackers’ number and group affiliation were unknown, according to the statement.
A second warrant under the Criminal Procedure Code, No. 411/61, was issued on Sept 12, 2018, over an attack on a joint three-agency checkpoint near Krong Pinang market in Krong Pinang district.
That attack, on April 3, 2017, involved a large armed group using military weapons and improvised explosive devices. Twelve police officers were injured.
The third warrant, No. 284/62, was issued by Yala Provincial Court on Nov 11, 2019, in connection with the attack on the Thang Lum village security team post in Moo 5, Lam Phaya subdistrict, Mueang Yala district.
The assault on Nov 5, 2019, killed 15 people and injured five.
Security personnel were continuing to examine the area, collect evidence and track down those who escaped so they could be brought into the legal process, the command reported.
It stated that the operation was being conducted within the authorities’ legal powers, with adherence to the rule of law, human rights and fair treatment for all parties.
The command maintained that the purpose was to protect people’s lives and property, rather than create conflict or escalate violence.
ISOC’s Region 4 Forward Command reaffirmed that its approach to the southern border provinces prioritised peaceful methods alongside law enforcement.
It emphasised building understanding and providing opportunities for people whose views differ from those of the state to enter dialogue, explore solutions and work together to resolve problems peacefully. - The Nation/ANN
