Errant kamikaze drone sparks petition
The drone was found on Tuesday about 5 kilometres from Khun Mae Woei village in Tha Song Yang district, and the 35th Ranger Regiment was alerted to the incident by villagers, the source said.
Military rangers, police and administrative officials then rushed to the spot and found the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) about 15km inside the border.
The crash caused no injuries or damage.
Initial assessments suggested the UAV originated from Myanmar's military and was intended for strikes against the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), he said.
It reportedly lost control and crashed into Thai territory. The drone was equipped with a gas canister believed to be an explosive warhead, he said.
The source went on to say that Special Task Force Ratchamanu worked with police and administrative officials to cordon off the area and mark it as a danger zone. Local residents were warned to stay away.
An explosive ordnance disposal unit from the Naresuan Task Force has since removed and destroyed the device.
Given the serious nature of the situation, Thai authorities have filed a petition through the TBC seeking clarification and assurances.
The drone reportedly resembled those used in recent military airstrikes against the KNLA, including those targeting KNLA Brigade 7 on March 18 and June 12, and Brigade 6 on July 13.
Earlier on July 17, the commander of Special Task Force Ratchamanu reported that Myanmar had deployed two YAK-130 aircraft to bomb the Ti Ta Hlae base in Myawaddy, just 3km from the border with Tak's Phop Phra district.
The base has come under heavy attack by KNLA forces. Myanmar troops were reportedly using supply drops and aerial bombardment to defend their positions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
2 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Satellite analysis reveals Cambodia as primary escalator in Thai border conflict
Satellite imagery analysis has revealed Cambodia initiated the majority of escalatory actions leading to deadly border clashes with Thailand, according to detailed evidence compiled by Australian defence expert Nathan Ruser. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst examined satellite data from February to July, identifying 33 Cambodian escalatory events versus 14 Thai actions. His timeline, based on observable military developments, shows Cambodia systematically fortified border positions months before clashes that killed 12 people on Thursday. Early fortification evidence Satellite imagery detected the first Cambodian tactical improvements between Feb 23-28, when troops cleared and upgraded a frontline road at Sam Yaek Lao junction in Chong Bok. This marked the beginning of sustained military preparations visible from space. By mid-March, imagery showed Cambodian forces constructing access roads to the strategic Phnom Prasitthi hilltop, directly opposite Thai positions. Between March 18-23, satellite data revealed heavy fortification of this strategic base. Further fortified positions appeared on satellite imagery throughout March, including a substantial outpost at Hill-641 within 300 metres of the border by March 25. Aerial photography later confirmed the extensive nature of these fortifications. Escalating military deployment Following a May 28 firefight that killed a Cambodian warrant officer, satellite tracking detected massive troop movements. Within 24 hours, imagery showed Cambodia deploying an estimated 800-1,000 troops, including elite forces, rocket artillery, and armoured units, to border areas. By May 30, satellite data confirmed deployment of approximately 12 SH-1 155mm self-propelled artillery vehicles from Preah Vihear command to frontline positions – nine to Ta Muen Thom sector, three to Chong Bok. Satellite imagery from June 5 revealed around 30 T-55 tanks positioned near Preah Vihear temple, stationed at the intersection between the temple and Phnom Prasitthi outpost. Landmine deployment detected Satellite analysis identified systematic explosive device placement beginning July 1. Imagery showed Cambodian Engineering Battalion 392 planting over 120 PMN-2 landmines on Hill 570's eastern slopes, expanding to over 300 mines by July 3. Additional satellite data detected another 100 landmines planted in the Emerald Triangle area by July 10. These weapons later caused casualties among Thai forces, with two separate incidents resulting in soldier amputations. Weapons positioning evidence June satellite imagery confirmed deployment of short-range air defence vehicles to Chong Bok sector on July 4. Earlier imagery from June 14 supported Thai military claims that Cambodia had positioned long-range artillery targeting the Thai town of Kantharalak. The final escalation occurred on Thursday when widespread artillery attacks in the Ta Muen Thom temple area killed 11 Thai civilians and one soldier, with Ruser's heatmap showing concentrated Cambodian military activity throughout the day. Timeline verification Ruser's satellite-based analysis covers the complete escalation period, beginning with the Feb 13 temple incident through the July 24 clashes. The imagery evidence supports his assessment that Cambodia conducted systematic military preparations whilst diplomatic efforts proceeded. Key satellite-verified developments include road construction, hilltop fortifications, artillery positioning, tank deployments, and explosive device placement – all observable through overhead imagery analysis. The satellite expert, whose work on conflict zones including Ukraine and Myanmar has gained international media recognition, concluded that observable military evidence clearly shows Cambodia as the primary escalator in the border dispute.
Bangkok Post
2 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Thailand-Cambodia border clashes won't become war: Phumtham
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai voiced confidence on Friday that the ongoing armed clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border would not escalate into a full-blown war between the two countries Mr Phumtham said the current incidents had not reached a level that warranted concern over a wider conflict. 'What we are seeing now are armed skirmishes, not war,' he said after chairing a meeting of the Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation. The deputy prime minister, who is overseeing security affairs, is acting as government leader following the suspension of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the premiership. He said Thailand remained willing to hold talks with Cambodia to bring an end to the cross-border exchange of gunfire and artillery, but insisted that any dialogue must be preceded by a halt to Cambodian military operations, which he said had triggered the confrontation. The clashes have so far been confined to four northeastern provinces: Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani — all under the responsibility of the Second Army Region. Mr Phumtham said Thai security agencies were working to prevent the conflict from spreading beyond these areas and to keep the situation under control. The Thai-Cambodian border also stretches through Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat. Sa Kaeo falls under the jurisdiction of the First Army Region, while the Royal Thai Navy oversees border security in Chanthaburi and Trat.
Bangkok Post
4 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Cambodian attacks kill 12 Thais
The number of fatalities from Cambodia's attacks on Thai civilian areas has risen to 12, including an eight-year-old boy, with over 30 injuries, according to the Thai army. Thai authorities confirmed that civilian zones were hit by supporting fire, resulting in fatalities, injuries and property damage after Cambodian forces launched artillery strikes into Thai territory following a morning assault on a Thai military base near the Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province. The affected areas included: Surin: Two civilians killed, including an eight-year-old boy; four civilians injured; five soldiers wounded. Ubon Ratchathani: One civilian killed; four seriously injured. Si Sa Ket: Eight civilians killed, including a 15-year-old; 15 civilians injured; one soldier killed, two wounded. Buri Ram: One civilian injured. The army said it will protect Thailand's sovereignty and its citizens, stating it is prepared to take all necessary military measures. In Surin's Kap Choeng district, two people were killed - a 12-year-old child and an adult - and two injured when BM-21 rockets fired from Cambodia struck their village in the morning. Evacuations of up to 40,000 residents to emergency shelters were under way. Authorities were evacuating people from 86 villages to emergency shelters at schools in the neighbouring Prasat district, Surin. Patients in Kap Choeng were being evacuated from Phanom Dong Rak and Kap Choeng hospitals after rockets fell near the Ta Muen temple ruins. Further casualty reports were not immediately available. In Si Sa Ket, two people were reported killed and many other civilians hurt when Cambodian rockets fell into a supermarket at a petrol station in Ban Phue.
