Bangkok – Thailand has formally protested to Myanmar after a suspected military drone crashed in a forested area of Tak province near the border, raising concerns over territorial violations and regional security.

Thai Air Force Deploys F-16s to Intercept Myanmar Aircraft Near Border

The incident unfolded when the 35th Ranger Task Force, operating under the Naresuan Force, received reports of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) discovered in Ban Khun Mae Wa, Tha Song Yang district. Upon investigation, authorities found a radio-controlled sacrificial drone equipped with what appeared to be a gas canister warhead, approximately 15 kilometers inside Thai territory.

Initial assessments suggest the drone belonged to the Myanmar military and may have been deployed in operations against anti-government factions, including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), before malfunctioning and straying across the border. No injuries or damage were reported.

A kamikaze drone allegedly launched by the Myanmar junta crashed in a forest near a village in Thailand’s Tha Song Yang District bordering Karen State on Tuesday morning.#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/x5kmOqYfWr

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As a precaution, Thai forces from the Ratchamanu Special Task Force, alongside police and local officials, secured the area and warned residents to avoid the site. An explosive ordnance disposal team later safely neutralized and removed the device.

Thailand swiftly lodged a diplomatic protest through the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) in Mae Sot, condemning the breach of its airspace. Military sources noted the drone’s design aligns with those used by Myanmar forces in recent clashes with ethnic armed groups.

Thai Troops Reinforce Border Amid Escalating Myanmar Conflict

The incident underscores escalating tensions along the border, where spillover from Myanmar’s internal conflict has periodically disrupted Thai sovereignty. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance in frontier regions.

-Thailand News (TN)