18 injured in southern Thai bombings; four Filipino soldiers hurt in grenade attack
'Dual attacks in Thai Deep South deadliest since 2019' and more news in this latest weekly Southeast Asia armed conflict summary.
Last week’s headlines painted a picture of Southeast Asia facing a complex web of interconnected security challenges, ranging from internal conflicts and insurgencies to terrorism and regional cooperation on security matters.
The Philippines experienced challenges to political stability within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), notably an unexpected leadership alteration and anxieties regarding the appointment of unvetted officials. Despite these issues, the MILF maintained its unity. The Philippine government actively combated communist insurgency, undertaking efforts to address the needs of former rebels and delivering services to previously affected areas. Military operations continued, resulting in clashes and surrenders of both communist insurgents and pro-Islamic State terrorists.
Thailand grappled with persistent violence in its southern region, where recent bombings and shootings drew criticism from rights groups and analysts, who urged the government to engage in peace talks with insurgent groups. Last week,