Narathiwat, July 23 -- Five soldiers were killed after armed assailants opened fire and threw pipe bombs at a security checkpoint in Thailand's southern Narathiwat province, the Royal Army's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) said on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Center of the ISOC Region 4 Forward Command, the attack took place on the evening of July 22 at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint in the Tanjong Mas Subdistrict Municipality area of Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat province, while personnel from the 45th Ranger Forces Regiment were carrying out security duties.

The five personnel killed in the attack were identified as Sergeant Major First Class Teerayut Somakerd, Ranger Volunteer Wimol Dabthong...