Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged gunfire at their border, with Thai forces conducting airstrikes on military positions on Thursday. The situation escalated tensions between the two nations, leading to one civilian’s death and prompting others to flee for safety.
Each country has blamed the other for worsening diplomatic relations since Wednesday and for initiating armed confrontations on Thursday.
Thailand has now closed all land borders with Cambodia.
Relations between these Southeast Asian neighbors have deteriorated significantly since military clashes in May resulted in Cambodian military casualties.
Nationalist sentiments on both sides are intensifying the conflict.
The Thai Army claimed it targeted Cambodian ground forces with airstrikes, while Cambodia’s Defense Ministry stated that Thai jets dropped bombs near the historical Purihaa temple.
Both governments assert the necessity of responding to provocations
Ongoing skirmishes have been reported in at least six border locations, according to Konsiri, a spokesperson for the Thai Defense Secretary.
The first confrontation on Thursday took place near the ancient Muen Thom temple along the border between Thailand’s Surin province and a Cambodian ministry.
A live video feed from Thailand depicted people fleeing their homes, seeking refuge in concrete bunkers as explosions echoed nearby.
Apart from the fatality, three additional civilians, including a five-year-old, suffered serious injuries when Cambodia fired into a residential area, according to Surasant.
The Thai Foreign Ministry accused Cambodia of targeting both military and non-military sites, such as hospitals.
The spokesperson for the Royal Thai government emphasized the need for accountability and urged Cambodia to cease attacks on civilians and Thai territory. He indicated readiness to enhance defense measures if Cambodia continued armed aggression, consistent with international law.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Mane maintained that his country has consistently sought a peaceful resolution but feels compelled to respond forcefully to attacks.
Diplomatic ties diminish and borders close
Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand to the lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian staff from their embassy in Bangkok.
This followed the prior expulsion of the Cambodian ambassador in response to a land mine explosion that injured five Thai soldiers.
Thai forces reported an incident involving unmanned aerial vehicles prior to six armed Cambodian soldiers approaching a Thai train station.
Thai soldiers called out to mitigate tensions, but according to Cambodia, the shooting began first.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense stated they acted in self-defense against perceived encroachments by Thai forces.
The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh warned citizens of ongoing conflicts in several border areas, suggesting they leave Cambodia if possible and advising against non-essential travel there.
A mine explosion near the border earlier injured five Thai soldiers, with one suffering a severe injury, having lost a leg. Recent weeks have seen more incidents involving land mines in contested areas.
Thai authorities contend that these mines were placed along mutually agreed-upon safe routes and claim they are of Russian origin rather than from Thai military stocks.
Cambodia dismissed Thai assertions as unfounded accusations, citing the historical legacies of war as the source of many outdated mines and weaponry.
The tensions have also led to political repercussions in Thailand, with the Prime Minister facing inquiries over ethical violations related to the border conflict.
Border disputes have long troubled relations between these countries, with notably violent events occurring around the Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice affirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over that area, a decision that has influenced bilateral relations. Following further clashes, Cambodia returned to court in 2011, with rulings reaffirming this sovereignty in 2013.
