TAK, THAILAND – A grenade fired during intense fighting in Myanmar landed in a Thai border village, injuring two people and triggering a security response.
Grenade from Myanmar strikes Thai village
The clashes in Myawaddy on the Myanmar side escalated around midday on Thursday, 5 December 2025, when the military attacked a rebel position near the Moei River. Machine guns and heavy weapons reportedly thundered for more than an hour before a projectile hit Thai territory. The explosion shook the village of Ban Mai Mae Kon Ken in Mae Sot district, sending debris flying through the air.
Elderly resident seriously wounded in his home
One of the injured was Som Champa, a 68‑year‑old resident who was struck by metal fragments in his own house and was seriously hurt. Rescue workers took him immediately to Mae Sot Hospital, where his condition was described as serious, while another villager suffered lighter injuries. In addition to the casualties, there was significant damage to houses and several parked cars.
Thai forces fire warning shots across the river
Thai border troops reacted swiftly as soldiers from the Task Force Rachamanu fired warning shots with smoke grenades across the river into Myanmar. The signal was intended to make both sides in the conflict understand:
“Stop shelling Thai territory!”
said Thai border troops.
Rangers, border police and village defence units were placed on high alert, and the entire border area came under close surveillance.
Authorities evacuate vulnerable residents
Local authorities immediately ordered the evacuation of residents at risk, focusing on children and older people who were moved to safe emergency shelters. Many villagers had already been living in constant fear that the conflict from the neighbouring country would spill over, and the latest incident confirmed their worst fears. The Thai government now faced the question of whether to further strengthen security measures along the entire western border.
Long‑standing flashpoint along the frontier
Tak province, including the border town of Mae Sot, had been a sensitive crisis zone for decades. The battle for control of Myawaddy on the Myanmar side was particularly intense, with rebel groups and the military fighting bitterly over strategic positions. In doing so, the proximity to Thailand was often ignored or accepted as a risk.
Neutrality under pressure as conflict nears
For Thailand, it had become increasingly difficult to maintain its neutrality and sovereignty as the fighting moved closer to the border fence. The situation remained tense, and as long as the battles in Myanmar continued, the danger of further border violations was real. The Thai army maintained clear rules of engagement: it would not intervene in the neighbouring conflict, but it would defend Thai territory and citizens at any cost.
Border incident seen as serious warning
The grenade strike was regarded as a serious warning that the civil war next door was no longer just something seen on the news. For communities along the frontier, it had become a direct threat, raising fears of further escalation if the violence in Myanmar did not subside.