Trat, Thailand — Thai Royal Marines have declared the border area in Trat province fully secured following an eight-day operation to reclaim the strategically important “Three Houses” site, known locally as Ban Sam Haeng or the area around three structures in Ban Nong Ree village.
Capt. Thammanoon Wanna, commander of the Trat Marine Task Force, announced on local Trat TV that Thai forces now maintain complete control of the battlefield. “Our troops have neutralized opposing Cambodian positions, and the area is under Thai sovereignty,” he said, adding that displaced civilians could soon return to their homes as the situation stabilizes.
The captain dismissed recent reports of unidentified drones over the border as mere psychological tactics by the opposing side, insisting they posed no real threat to local residents or Thai personnel.
In the Trat sector, five Thai soldiers have sustained injuries during the operations, with no reported fatalities among military personnel. No civilian casualties have been recorded on the Thai side. However, approximately 15 incidents of artillery and small-arms fire impacted Thai territory, leading to the evacuation of 4,528 residents from vulnerable border communities.
The operation, part of broader efforts to address longstanding territorial disputes along the Thailand-Cambodia border, focused on expelling forces from the disputed “Three Houses” complex, which Thai authorities claim has been encroached upon for decades. Marines successfully raised the Thai flag at the site, signaling the reclamation of the area.
The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions in multiple border provinces, though military officials stated that the Trat front has seen a significant de-escalation following the marines’ actions.
Local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritizing the safe return of evacuees and the restoration of normalcy in affected villages.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
