Security Forces Kill Wanted Militant in Yala Firefight
A wanted militant linked to three deadly attacks was killed in a firefight with security
On November 9, 2026, the ISOC Region 4 Forward Command, together with the Yala Special Task Force and local security agencies, conducted a strategic operation from November 7–9 to locate hideouts of violent insurgents in the forested hills of Ban Kampong Baru (a sub-village of Ban Kok Chang), Village 7, Mae Wat Subdistrict, Tha To District, Yala Province. During a patrol, a group of insurgents opened fire on officials, leading to a firefight. One insurgent was killed while others fled. All officials remained safe. After the clash, officers inspected the scene and found one dead insurgent along with two firearms: an M16 rifle and a handgun. The deceased was identified as Sae-udee, 48, a resident of Bannang Sata, Yala, an operational-level member of the violent insurgent group. He had three outstanding arrest warrants: 1) Warrant No. 198/2015 dated June 20, 2015 for the April 7, 2013 beheading in Village 2, Ban Rae, Tha To, Yala; 2) Warrant No. 411/2018 dated September 12, 2018 for the April 3, 2017 attack by a heavily armed group using war weapons and grenades on a joint checkpoint at Krong Pinang Market, Yala, injuring 12 police officers; 3) Yala Provincial Court Warrant No. 284/2019 dated November 11, 2019 for the November 5, 2019 ambush on a village security post in Mueang Yala District, killing 15 and injuring 5. Authorities continue to search the area, gather evidence, and pursue fleeing insurgents for prosecution under the rule of law, adhering to human rights principles. The operation aims to enforce the law within authorized powers, not to create conflict or escalate violence, but to protect public safety and property.
