Bombing attacks in Thailand's south kill five; two Filipino communist insurgent leaders killed
Another bombing in southern Thailand injures six and more in this latest weekly Southeast Asia armed conflict summary.
Southeast Asia faces a complex and evolving security landscape, marked by persistent insurgencies, terrorism, and efforts towards peacebuilding.
In Thailand's Deep South, violence persisted, with bomb blasts and gun attacks causing casualties, particularly during Ramadan. I’ve also noticed that weekends in southern Thailand are now particularly dangerous, with four or five consecutive weekend (Saturday and Sunday) bombing attacks occurring in the restive Deep South. Despite fragile peace talks, fears of renewed violence remained, prompting calls for strengthened negotiation mechanisms.
The Philippines grappled with multiple security challenges, including communist insurgencies and internal conflicts within the former rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). While the military had shifted its focus to external defence, efforts to combat communist insurgents continued, with both military offensives