Thailand’s military has launched air attacks along its disputed border with Cambodia as the Southeast Asian neighbours traded blame for clashes that left at least one Thai soldier dead.
Both sides accused the other of launching strikes along their disputed border Monday morning, after weeks of simmering tension and the earlier suspension of progress on the ceasefire agreement by Thailand.
Thai army Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said that the airstrikes targeted Cambodian military infrastructure, and were retaliation for an attack earlier on Monday that killed a Thai soldier.
In a statement on Monday, Suvaree said that Thailand deployed the aircraft to “suppress” Cambodian attacks after the death of the Thai soldier in the Ubon Ratchathani province.
“The target was at Cambodia’s arms supporting positions in the area of Chong An Ma Pass, because those targets had used artilleries and mortar launchers to attack the Thai side at Anupong Base, resulting in one soldier killed.”
Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree
Suvaree later said during a news briefing that seven people were injured in the attack. The Thai army said in a statement claimed that Cambodia began targeting the Thai border at around 3 a.m. local time on Monday.
Cambodia, however, disputed the Thai account. The Cambodian military, in a statement on Facebook, said that it was the Thai forces who had launched the first attack at 5am local time on Monday.
It added that the clashes followed “numerous provocative actions for many days” by Thai forces.
The new wave of fighting between the southeast Asian neighbors marks the potential collapse of a peace plan presided over by US President Donald Trump just two months ago.
The attacks were the latest outbreak of violence between the neighbours after a ceasefire that ended five days of deadly clashes in July. At least 48 people were killed during the fighting in July, while an estimated 300,000 people were displaced temporarily.
The ceasefire was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and United States President Trump, who also witnessed the signing of an expanded peace agreement between the two countries in Kuala Lumpur in October.
Tensions have continued to flare, however. The clashes have meanwhile resulted in renewed displacement in both countries. About 70% of Thai civilians have been evacuated from border towns, the Thai army statement said.
Thailand’s Second Army Region said in a statement that around 35,000 people have been evacuated from areas along the border, while a Spokesman for Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey provincial administration said a “number of villagers who live near the border are fleeing to safety.” The Cambodian province also suspended school on Monday over the fighting.
Cambodia said on Monday that it did not want to be drawn back into direct conflict.
“Standing on the spirit of respecting all previous agreements and resolving conflicts peacefully according to international law, Cambodia did not retaliate at all during the two assaults and continues to monitor the situation vigilantly and with utmost caution.”
Cambodia military
Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen also called for frontline Cambodian forces to be patient, accusing Thai forces of trying to “draw us into a fight to destroy the ceasefire and the Cambodia-Thailand peace declaration.”
He also urged athletes participating in the South East Asia Games, which are due to begin in Thailand on Tuesday, to “participate in the competition as normal.”
Anwar Urges Thailand, Cambodia To Exercise Maximum Restraint
Anwar, the Malaysian Prime Minister, expressed deep concern. “We urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint, maintain open channels of communication and make full use of the mechanisms in place,” he said in a post on X.
“The renewed fighting risks unravelling the careful work that has gone into stabilising relations between the two neighbours.”
Anwar Ibrahim
He added that Malaysia stands ready to support steps that can help restore calm and avert further incidents. “Our region cannot afford to see long-standing disputes slip into cycles of confrontation,” he stressed.
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