Clashes Erupt at Disputed Thailand-Cambodia Border
The conflict has resulted in the deployment of fighter jets and the evacuation of residents, with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet stating that Thailand attacked Cambodian army positions at two temple sites, and Thailand's military claiming to have destroyed two Cambodian regional military support units.
Thailand has sealed its entire border with Cambodia after clashes between the two countries' troops left at least one civilian dead and several injured, including a five-year-old child, amid a long-standing dispute over a disputed border area.
The fighting, which began on Thursday, marks an escalation of the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, with Thailand deploying F-16 fighter jets to strike Cambodian military targets. Cambodia has accused Thailand of using "brutal" force and downgraded ties with Thailand, warning that the military is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty "at all costs."
The Thai army has reported that three civilians have been seriously wounded, including a five-year-old boy, and that fighting is ongoing in six areas along the disputed border. Thailand has also closed its schools near the disputed border and urged its citizens to leave Cambodia, as the situation continues to deteriorate.
The dispute has been ongoing for years, with both countries imposing tit-for-tat restrictions and strengthening their troop presence along the 508-mile land border. The situation has seen periodic military clashes and political tensions, with Thailand downgrading diplomatic relations with Cambodia and expelling the Cambodian ambassador in recent weeks.
The escalation of the conflict has raised concerns about the impact on civilians and the potential for further violence, as both countries remain committed to defending their claims to the disputed border area.