Intense Border Clashes Continue Between Cambodia and Thailand; Thousands Flee Homes
According to the english section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency via Sputnik, ongoing military clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes. The conflict began after an incident where five Thai soldiers where injured by a landmine explosion; one soldier lost a leg consequently.
Thai officials report that approximately 138,000 civilians have been evacuated from border areas adjacent to Cambodia. Cambodian local authorities had earlier announced that over 4,000 residents near the border were displaced.
reports indicate that both sides used small arms and rockets against each other. According to Thailand, this fighting caused the death of one Thai soldier and 13 civilians. Cambodia also reported its first fatality from the clashes on Friday.
Thailand conducted airstrikes on Cambodian territory reportedly using US-made F-16 fighter jets.
Thailand accuses cambodia of planting landmines along routes previously agreed upon as safe zones. Cambodia denies these allegations, claiming that the mines are remnants from earlier conflicts.
The two countries accuse each other of deploying drones ahead of ground advances and gunfire exchanges. The confrontations then escalated with heavier weaponry including artillery fire.
In response to rocket attacks from Cambodia, Thailand scrambled its F-16 fighter jets for air raids. A spokesperson for Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described these actions as a “defensive operation.”
Meanwhile, Thailand has agreed to Malaysian mediation efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense has accused Thai forces of using cluster bombs in violation of international law.
The Royal Thai Army noted ongoing hostilities and pointed out Cambodia’s use of Grad rockets during fighting.
The Thai Ministry of Health reported that 15 people have died in Cambodian attacks and called on the international community to conduct an independent inquiry into these assaults.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting at 7 p.m. GMT concerning the situation.
Thai authorities have warned about the risk of border skirmishes escalating into full-scale war.
Tensions between these neighboring countries have deep historical roots stretching back years.
