On Thursday, a fierce clash erupted between Thailand and Cambodia in a border area. The Thai Air Force deployed an F-16 fighter jet to launch an airstrike on a Cambodian military base, claiming to have destroyed two military command centers.
The conflict broke out near the disputed area of Ta Moan Thom temple early on Thursday morning, approximately 360 kilometers from the Thai capital Bangkok. Cambodian projectiles hit residential houses, resulting in at least three civilian deaths. Thai authorities swiftly evacuated around 40,000 residents from 86 villages near the border to safer areas.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of initiating the exchange of fire that sparked the conflict.
According to the Thai military, Cambodia first sent surveillance drones, followed by heavily armed forces entering the temple vicinity and opening fire, injuring two Thai soldiers. Cambodia was alleged to have used rocket launchers and other weapons. Counteracting this, Cambodia accused Thai troops of crossing the border without cause and stated that their military merely responded in self-defense.
As tensions escalated, both countries closed border checkpoints. The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh urged Thai citizens to leave Cambodia immediately, cautioning that the conflict “may persist for an extended period and escalate further.” The embassy also advised against any non-essential travel to Cambodia.
Thai Army Deputy Spokesperson, Richa Suksuwanon, mentioned that Thailand had deployed six F-16 fighter jets in the disputed border region, with one aircraft firing into Cambodian territory, destroying a military target.
Just the previous night, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the recall of its ambassador to Cambodia and the expulsion of the Cambodian ambassador to Thailand. This decision was linked to two consecutive landmine incidents, in which a Thai soldier lost a leg in the disputed area, marking the second soldier injured by landmines within a week.
Thailand alleged that these landmines were recently planted by Cambodia. However, Cambodia denied the accusations, claiming that these soldiers veered off the agreed pathway, triggering landmines left over from the war several decades ago. According to demining organizations, Cambodia still has millions of landmines remaining from past conflicts.
During the Thursday conflict, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense stated that Thai fighter jets dropped two bombs on a road, condemning Thailand’s “reckless and aggressive military invasion, encroaching on Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Amid the crossfire, civilians sought refuge in concrete bunkers reinforced with sandbags and tires.
A woman interviewed by local media outside a shelter reported sporadic gunfire and explosions, expressing uncertainty about the extent of the exchange, saying, “How many shots were fired? I’ve lost count.”
For over a century, Thailand and Cambodia have disputed sovereignty over several unmarked segments of their 817-kilometer terrestrial border, leading to sporadic conflicts resulting in at least a dozen casualties, including a week-long artillery exchange in 2011. In May of this year, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a brief exchange, escalating tensions into a diplomatic crisis and ultimately triggering armed conflict.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stressed the sensitivity of the current situation, emphasizing the need to exercise caution and act in accordance with international law.
Previously, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attempted to defuse the tension by reaching out to former Cambodian strongman Hun Sen. However, following the leaked contents of the conversation, Thailand faced a political storm, leading to Prime Minister Shinawatra’s suspension by the court.
Hun Sen took to Facebook, alleging that two Cambodian provinces were shelled by the Thai military.
(Reference: Reuters and CNN reports)