Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged gunfire and rocket strikes along their disputed border after two ASEAN countries accused each other of violating the ceasefire, officials said on Monday.
The October peace agreement brokered by United States President Donald Trump came into effect after the two sides clashed for nearly five days in July over a half-century-old border dispute. The Royal Thai Army said clashes first erupted on Sunday after Cambodian troops opened fire at Thai soldiers in eastern Ubon Ratchathani province.
The Thai army official confirmed that at least one soldier has been killed and four others injured, prompting a strong artillery and drone attack at Anupong Base, the army said.
Royal Thai Air Force spokesman Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai said late on Sunday that “Thailand deployed its F-16 fighter jets to carry out neutralisation of the military assets belonging to the Cambodian army in response to attacks.” The measure, according to him, was necessary to limit the enemy’s capabilities and minimise the scope of civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said late on Sunday that the Thai army carried out numerous attacks on Cambodian military positions with small arms, mortars, tanks, and drones.
The ministry, while denying any military build-up near the contested border region, said, “The Thai side also falsely accused Cambodia without any basis, even though Cambodian forces did not retaliate at all,” she said. The conflict that erupted in July killed dozens, including civilians, and displaced more than 385,000 on both sides.
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