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Local Islamic State sources report that in the evening of 25 May 2022, a major attack targeted a Thai navy position in Tak Bai, Narathiwat Province, Thailand, which sits on the border with Malaysia. Significant damage was caused when the militants threw bombs at facility and a shootout ensued. According to initial reports at least three officers lost their lives. Back in Novebmer 2021, rumors began to circulate that Islamic State East Asia was expanding into Thailand, when a large cache of weapons was found in Narathiwat province – a mere 40 km where this most recent current attack took place.
The first appearance of an ISEA cell in Thailand was in an unofficial video “Messages to the Mujahideen of Thailand” on 03 December 2021. It is possible that Islamic State co-opted local groups, meaning this ISEA cell is likely comprised of Patani separatist, or, even more likely, of former Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) fighters. An 18 May 2022 announcement by the unofficial Islamic State media house “East Asian Knights” announced a merger with the Nibras news agency, which indicates that Thailand has been folded into the overarching umbrella of ISEA. What was interesting about this announcement is that Malaysia was left out of the ISEA umbrella, but Myanmar was included. Malaysia’s exclusion seems odd, due to there less than 20 km between Tak Bai and the Malaysian Border. The question arises: Will the Thai group subsume operations in Malaysia in a larger peninsular wilayah?
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