Thailand launches airstrike on Cambodia as border clash escalates
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash LIVE Updates: Colonial-era demarcations, domestic politics behind the escalation
The root of the territorial tension lies in the colonial-era demarcation of the 800-kilometre border, originally mapped during French rule over Indochina. Thailand has long challenged the legitimacy of parts of that boundary, especially near ancient temples like Preah Vihear. Sporadic clashes in the region, notably from 2008 to 2011, have previously led to dozens of deaths.
The latest round of violence intensified after a series of landmine explosions injured Thai soldiers. Diplomatic ties were downgraded, and Thai airstrikes on Cambodian military positions triggered retaliatory artillery fire, killing civilians and escalating the crisis into full-scale combat. Peace talks have stalled, and border crossings remain restricted.
International legal rulings have done little to ease tensions. Although the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty of the Preah Vihear temple and surrounding land to Cambodia, Thailand does not accept its rulings. Cambodia has now approached the UN Security Council for intervention, while other nations, including China and the US, have called for restraint and dialogue.
Domestic politics in both countries are fuelling the crisis. In Cambodia, nationalist sentiment is running high amid perceptions of Thai aggression. In Thailand, internal divisions between the civilian government and the powerful military have weakened coordination, especially after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended following a leaked call with Hun Sen.
Each side blames the other for starting the conflict. Thailand has accused Cambodia of targeting civilians in a brutal and inhumane manner, while Cambodia maintains it only struck military sites and accuses Thailand of unprovoked aggression. With tensions still high, the possibility of further escalation remains.
Zookeepers in Prague turn into puppeteers to save baby vultures
Zookeepers in Prague sometimes have to become puppeteers to save newborn birds. This was the case for a lesser yellow-headed vulture chick hatched three weeks ago. The first-born is being kept in a box and fed using a puppet designed to mimic a parent bird.
The first-born is being kept in a box and fed using a puppet designed to mimic a parent bird, while another is expected to hatch in the next few days.
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Vaidl said the puppet is needed to make sure the bird will be capable of breeding, which it won’t if it gets used to human interaction.
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He explained that the puppet doesn’t have to be a perfect replica of an adult bird because the chick responds to certain signals, such as the pale orange coloration on its featherless head and neck.
Lesser yellow-headed vultures live in the wild in Latin America and Mexico . Prague Zoo is one of only three zoos in Europe that breed them.
In the past, the park successfully applied this treatment to save the critically endangered Javan green magpie and two rhinoceros hornbill chicks. The puppet-feeding technique is applicable for birds that live in pairs.
Like the Fed, European Central Bank holds off on rate cuts amid tariff upheaval
The ECB has already cut rates eight times since June of last year. The central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro is facing the same dilemma that has led the U.S. Federal Reserve to hold off on cutting rates further. It’s hard to tell how high the tariffs will end up after fraught negotiations, and what the ultimate impact will be on the economy. Higher tariffs could slow investment, growth and inflation – or they could be inflationary by disrupting existing supply chains for parts and raw materials. The ECB’S rate cuts have helped support economic activity by lowering the cost of credit for consumers and businesses to purchase goods. The bank has been lowering rates to support growth after raising them in 2022-2023.
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“The sooner this trade uncertainty is resolved … the less uncertainty we will have to deal with,” she said. “And that would be welcome by any economic actors, including ourselves…If trade tensions are resolved in short order, it will clear some of the uncertainty that we have weighing on the decision-making of consumers, of investors, of, untold enterprises.”
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“You could argue that we are on hold, we are in this wait and watch situation.”
The central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro is facing the same dilemma that has led the U.S. Federal Reserve to hold off on cutting rates further: it’s hard to tell how high the tariffs will end up after fraught negotiations, and what the ultimate impact will be on the economy.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been harshly criticized by the Trump for delaying rate cuts. For his part, Powell has said the Fed wants to see the impact of the duties on prices and the economy before making any rate changes.
The ECB has already cut rates eight times since June of last year. The monetary authority for the 20 countries that use the euro currency has been lowering rates to support growth after raising them in 2022-2023 to snuff out inflation caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the rebound after the pandemic.
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With the bench mark rate now at 2%, down from a record high of 4% Analysts say a rate cut in September is a possibility but not a certainty. The reason: ECB’s policymakers simply don’t know the outcome of talks between the EU’s executive commission and the Trump administration.
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Trump first set a 20% tariff for EU goods, then threatened 50% after expressing displeasure at the pace of talks, then sent the EU a letter informing officials of a potential 30% tariff.
EU officials earlier held out hope of winning at least the 10% baseline that applies to almost all trade partners, and analysts think that the actual rate may be lower than Trump’s tariff threats. The talks are up against an Aug. 1 deadline, but earlier deadlines have slipped as the sides kept talking.
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Higher tariffs, or import taxes, on European goods would mean sellers would have to either increase prices for U.S. consumers – risking loss of market share – or swallow the added cost in terms of lower profits. In either case, higher tariffs would hurt export earnings for European firms and slow the economy, which would strengthen the case for another rate cut in September.
The ECB’s rate cuts have helped support economic activity by lowering the cost of credit for consumers and businesses to purchase goods. Higher rates have the opposite effect and are used to cool of inflation by reducing demand for goods.
Thailand-Cambodia border dispute: Thailand closes border with Cambodia as death toll from fighting rises – as it happened
Thailand’s health minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, said 12 people, including 11 civilians and one soldier, were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces. He added that 24 civilians and seven military personnel were wounded. One child was included among the civilians killed. There was no immediate word of casualties in Cambodia. Cambodia said it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. Thailand said an F-16 fighter jet had fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target. The Thai military said Cambodian troops had opened fire near the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone before sending in troops with heavy weapons, including rocket launchers. Cambodia has denied the claims, with the ministry of national defence saying it was the Thai military that launched the first armed assault. The clashes broke out along a disputed section of their border with both countries accusing the other of provocation, after weeks of simmering tensions between the south-east-Asian neighbours.
20m ago 14.55 BST Afternoon summary Here is an overview of today’s events: Thailand’s health minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, said 12 people, including 11 civilians and one soldier, were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces. He added that 24 civilians and seven military personnel were wounded. One child was included among the civilians killed. Cambodia’s attacks targeted civilian areas in Thailand, including a hospital, causing fatalities, Thailand’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, urging its neighbour to cease actions it said were severe violations of international law.
Thailand said an F-16 fighter jet had fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target. The army said several more jets were ready to be deployed. “We have used air power against military targets as planned,” Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Cambodia’s influential former premier Hun Sen – father of current prime minister Hun Manet – said that two Cambodian provinces had come under shelling from Thailand’s military. There was no immediate word of casualties in Cambodia.
Fighting must first stop between Thailand and Cambodia before there can be negotiations, Thailand’s acting premier said on Thursday. Phumtham Wechayachai told a press conference there had been no declaration of war and conflict was not spreading into more provinces.
Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested the UN security council convene an “urgent meeting” over Thursday’s clashes. The letter accuses Thailand of “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian positions along border areas.
The clashes broke out along a disputed section of their border with both countries accusing the other of provocation, after weeks of simmering tensions between the south-east-Asian neighbours. The conflict started near the Khmer Hindu temple, Ta Muen Thom, on Thursday morning.
Both Thailand and Cambodia accused each other of opening fire first. The Thai military said Cambodian troops had opened fire near the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone before sending in troops with heavy weapons, including rocket launchers. Cambodia has denied the claims, with its ministry of national defence saying it was the Thai military that launched the first armed assault.
Thailand’s military said it had closed all border checkpoints and that fighting was taking place at six different locations.
Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia said it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. That was in response to Thailand closing its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia, withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador on Wednesday to protest a landmine blast that wounded five Thai soldiers.
Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has asked on Thursday for those living in the country to avoid discrimination against Thai companies or citizens. He asked any Cambodian citizens in Thailand who were facing discrimination to contact the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok or the Cambodian Consulate-General in Sa Kaeo province. Share
37m ago 14.38 BST Thai news outlet The Nation reports business leaders in the country expressing “deep concern” about the ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. The Thai Chamber of Commerce reportedly said in a statement: The Thai Chamber of Commerce extends its deepest sympathies and encouragement to the brave personnel of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and all security agencies … who are tirelessly fulfilling their duty to protect the nation’s sovereignty. We pray for the safety of all citizens affected by this perilous situation. Share
1h ago 14.20 BST Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet announced this month that Cambodia would start conscripting civilians next year, activating a long-dormant mandatory draft law, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports. He cited rising tensions with Thailand for the decision. Cambodia’s conscription law dates back to 2006 but has never been enforced. Hun Manet has proposed conscripts serve for two years to bolster the country’s 200,000 personnel, requiring citizens age 18 to 30 to enlist in the military. Share
1h ago 14.01 BST Here are some of the latest photos of the Thailand-Cambodia conflict coming to us through the wires: View image in fullscreen People rest at a shelter, following recent clashes along the disputed border between the two countries, according to authorities people have been killed across three border provinces, in Surin province, Thailand, on Thursday, 24 July 2025. Photograph: Reuters View image in fullscreen Evacuees carry their belongings at a Thai government evacuation centre after clashes in Surin province, Thailand, on Thursday. Photograph: Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/EPA View image in fullscreen An army truck transports troops amid clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers along the disputed border in Prasat district, Surin province, Thailand, on Thursday. Photograph: Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/EPA View image in fullscreen An evacuee holds her baby at a Thai government evacuation centre after being relocated following clashes in Surin province, Thailand, on Thursday. Photograph: Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/EPA Share
2h ago 13.42 BST Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has asked on Thursday for those living in the country to avoid discrimination against Thai companies or citizens. He asked any Cambodian citizens in Thailand who were facing discrimination to contact the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok or the Cambodian Consulate-General in Sa Kaeo province. He said in a post on Facebook: Even though there is currently fighting between the Cambodian and Thai armies at the border, I appeal to all Cambodian citizens to maintain their morality and dignity, and to avoid discrimination or any actions that could affect the Royal Thai Embassy in Cambodia, Thai companies, and Thai citizens living in Cambodia. For Cambodian citizens who are living, working, or studying in Thailand and may be facing pressure from discrimination and wish to return to Cambodia, please come back to our country. If you need assistance, please contact the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok or the Consulate-General of Cambodia in Sa Kaeo Province in Thailand. Share
2h ago 13.24 BST Footage from a rocket strike near a petrol station in Sisaket province showed smoke pouring from a convenience store attached to the petrol station, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports. Provincial officials said most of the dead were students inside the shop when the attack happened. Praphas Intaracheun, a 53-year-old gardener from Sisaket province, told AFP: I heard a loud noise three or four times, and when I looked over, there was a gigantic cloud of smoke. He was refuelling at another petrol station about 300 metres (984 feet) from the one that was hit. He said: I was absolutely shocked. This is the first time I’ve ever experienced anything like this. I’m scared it might escalate during the night when you can’t see anything. I don’t even dare sleep. The Thai public health ministry said 35 civilians have been wounded. Share
2h ago 13.05 BST On Wednesday, Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled the Cambodian ambassador to protest against the landmine blast that wounded its soldiers, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Thai authorities alleged the mines were newly laid along paths that both sides had agreed were supposed to be safe. They said the mines were Russian-made and not of a type employed by Thailand’s military. Cambodia rejected Thailand’s account as “baseless accusations,” saying that that many unexploded mines and other ordnance are a legacy of 20th-century wars and unrest. Share Updated at 13.10 BST
3h ago 12.31 BST Thailand and Cambodia’s military forces compared Reuters and the International Institute for Strategic Studies has this comparison of Thailand and Cambodia’s military forces. BUDGETS AND GROUND PERSONNEL Cambodia had a defence budget of $1.3bn in 2024 and 124,300 active military personnel. The armed forces were established in 1993 from the merger of the country’s former Communist military and two other resistance armies.
Of this, the Cambodian army is the largest force, with 75,000 soldiers, more than 200 battle tanks and about 480 pieces of artillery. Thailand, which the U.S. classifies as a major non-Nato ally, has a large, well-funded military, with a defence budget of $5.73bn in 2024 and more than 360,000 active armed forces personnel.
The army has 245,000 personnel, including an estimated 115,000 conscripts, 400 battle tanks, more than 1,200 armoured personnel carriers and 2,600 artillery weapons. It also has its own fleet of aircraft: passenger planes, helicopters such as dozens of US-made Black Hawks, and unmanned aerial vehicles. AIR FORCES Cambodia’s air force has 1,500 personnel, with a relatively small fleet of aircraft, including 10 transport planes and 10 transport helicopters. It has no fighter aircraft but has 16 multi- role helicopters, including six Soviet-era Mi-17s and 10 Chinese Z-9s. Thailand has one of the best equipped and trained air forces in Southeast Asia, with an estimated 46,000 personnel, 112 combat capable aircraft, including 28 F-16s and 11 Swedish Gripen fighter jets, and dozens of helicopters. NAVIES The Cambodian navy has an estimated 2,800 personnel, including 1,500 naval infantry, with 13 patrol and coastal combat vessels and one amphibious landing craft. Thailand’s navy is much larger, with nearly 70,000 personnel, comprising naval aviation, marines, coastal defence and conscripts. It has one aircraft carrier, seven frigates, 68 patrol and coastal combat vessels, and some amphibious and landing ships capable of holding hundreds of troops each and 14 smaller landing craft. Thailand’s naval aviation division has its own fleet of aircraft, including helicopters and UAVs, besides a marine corps that has 23,000 personnel, backed by dozens of armed fighting vehicles. Share
3h ago 11.59 BST Summary of the day so far Thailand’s health minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, said 12 people, including 11 civilians and one soldier, were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces. He added that 24 civilians and seven military personnel were wounded. One child was included among the civilians killed. Cambodia’s attacks targeted civilian areas in Thailand, including a hospital, causing fatalities, Thailand’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, urging its neighbour to cease actions it said were severe violations of international law.
Thailand said an F-16 fighter jet had fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target. The army said several more jets were ready to be deployed. “We have used air power against military targets as planned,” Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Cambodia’s influential former premier Hun Sen – father of current prime minister Hun Manet – said that two Cambodian provinces had come under shelling from Thailand’s military. There was no immediate word of casualties in Cambodia.
Fighting must first stop between Thailand and Cambodia before there can be negotiations, Thailand’s acting premier said on Thursday. Phumtham Wechayachai told a press conference there had been no declaration of war and conflict was not spreading into more provinces.
Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested the UN security council convene an “urgent meeting” over Thursday’s clashes. The letter accuses Thailand of “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian positions along border areas.
The clashes broke out along a disputed section of their border with both countries accusing the other of provocation, after weeks of simmering tensions between the south-east-Asian neighbours. The conflict started near the Khmer Hindu temple, Ta Muen Thom, on Thursday morning.
Both Thailand and Cambodia accused each other of opening fire first. The Thai military said Cambodian troops had opened fire near the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone before sending in troops with heavy weapons, including rocket launchers. Cambodia has denied the claims, with its ministry of national defence saying it was the Thai military that launched the first armed assault.
Thailand’s military said it had closed all border checkpoints and that fighting was taking place at six different locations.
Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia said it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. That was in response to Thailand closing its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia, withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador on Wednesday to protest a landmine blast that wounded five Thai soldiers. Share
4h ago 11.43 BST Thailand’s prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office on 1 July to be investigated for possible ethics violations over her handling of the border dispute after a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian leader the Associated Press (AP) reports.
In the June call, Paetongtarn referred to Cambodian former prime minister Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticised Thai military leadership, remarks framed by critics as disrespectful to national sovereignty.
Hun Sen was succeeded by his son Hun Manet in 2023 but remains influential as Senate president. He was a longtime friend of her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a popular but divisive former prime minister, but they became estranged over the border dispute.
The leaked call sparked widespread outrage and protests. Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party-led coalition also weakened when its second-largest partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, withdrew support, citing her perceived softness toward Cambodia.
Paetongtarn has apologised and argued her comments were a negotiating tactic. Her ally, former defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai, was appointed acting prime minister. Share Updated at 11.46 BST
4h ago 11.24 BST Here are some of the latest photos of the Thailand-Cambodia conflict coming to us through the wires: View image in fullscreen People rest at a shelter, after recent clashes along the disputed border between the two countries, in Surin province, Thailand, on Thursday, 24 July 2025. Photograph: Reuters View image in fullscreen According to authorities, people have been killed across three border provinces in Thailand, with individuals here shown in Surin province, Thailand, on Thursday. Photograph: Reuters View image in fullscreen A security officer walks past the embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok on Thursday. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA View image in fullscreen More people shown resting at a shelter in Surin province, Thailand, on Thursday. Photograph: Reuters Share
4h ago 11.07 BST Fighting must first stop between Thailand and Cambodia before there can be negotiations, Thailand’s acting premier said on Thursday, Reuters reports. Phumtham Wechayachai told a press conference there had been no declaration of war and conflict was not spreading into more provinces. He said Cambodia had fired heavy weapons into Thailand without any specific targets, resulting in civilian deaths. Share
4h ago 10.53 BST The fighting comes after clashes broke out near the Khmer Hindu temple Ta Muen Thom on Thursday morning, along the border of Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. The Thai military said Cambodian troops had opened fire near the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone before sending in troops with heavy weapons, including rocket launchers. Shown is a graphic depicting the location of the Khmer Hindu temple Ta Muen Thom, where clashes broke out beteen Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday. Shown is a graphic depicting the location of the Khmer Hindu temple Ta Muen Thom, where clashes broke out beteen Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday. Cambodia has denied the claims, with its ministry of national defence saying it was the Thai military that launched the first armed assault. The ministry said in a statement: Cambodian forces acted strictly within the bounds of self-defence, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity. Share
5h ago 10.40 BST Border disputes are longstanding issues that have caused periodic tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the Associated Press (AP) reports. The two neighbours share more than 800 kilometres (500 miles) of land border. The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. The most prominent and violent conflicts have been around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritant in bilateral relations. Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, after several clashes between its army and Thai forces that killed about 20 people and displaced thousands. The court reaffirmed the ruling in Cambodia’s favour in 2013. Cambodia has again turned to the international court to resolve the border disputes but Thailand has rejected the court’s jurisdiction. Share Updated at 10.50 BST
5h ago 10.24 BST Unicef has asked for all parties involved in the conflict to “exercise maximum restraint” in light of the civilian casualties that have been reported. The UN agency said in a statement on Thursday: Unicef is deeply concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border, which has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, including the killing of children, and the temporary closure of hundreds of schools in affected areas. Unicef calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and protect children and the critical services they rely on, in line with their obligations under international law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children must be protected at all times and their safety and wellbeing must be prioritized, while schools must remain safe spaces for learning. Share Updated at 10.40 BST
5h ago 10.15 BST Rebecca Ratcliffe Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s prime minister who is now suspended from office over her handling of the border dispute, has shared a following statement on social media condemning Cambodia’s actions: All along, Thailand has made every effort to engage in diplomatic dialogue in order to avoid confrontation, prevent further escalation of the situation and avoid losses by exercising patience and restraint while remaining committed to peaceful means. We firmly believe that peace is the best path to resolving conflicts between nations. According to reports from the authorities concerned, I affirm that all relevant agencies have been working to their fullest capacity. I sincerely hope that the ongoing measures will bring an end to violence and bring back peace to the people at the earliest opportunity. I fully support all responsive actions taken by the government, the Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the framework of international law and principles. I send my moral support to all officers who are currently defending our national integrity and sovereignty, as well as to the people in the affected areas. I also express my deepest concern and heartfelt support for everyone’s safety. As a highest priority, I urge all citizens to follow the government’s safety protocols to preserve lives and property. Paetongtarn was suspended by the constitutional court this month after a recording of her discussing the border dispute with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen was leaked. In the recording, she could be heard calling Hun Sen, an old family friend, “uncle” and saying that if there were anything he wanted, she would “take care of it”. She also made critical remarks about a senior Thai military commander. Paetongtarn faced huge criticism domestically over the call, with opponents saying she failed to protect the country’s interests. Share
Thailand launches airstrike on Cambodia as border clash escalates
Thailand and Cambodia share a 508-mile border, which includes several tracts of disputed territory. Tensions began to climb last month after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish. Thai solders patrolling a disputed border region have been maimed by land mines. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was caught on a phone call appearing deferential to Cambodian leaders over the dispute, prompting calls for her to resign. The two militaries exchanged shots across the border near the sites of several ancient temples, including the Preah Vihear Temple, which has been designated by the U.N. as a world heritage site, officials say.
Thailand and Cambodia share a 508-mile border, which includes several tracts of disputed territory. Thai solders patrolling a disputed border region have been maimed by land mines, most recently on Wednesday, prompting Thailand to recall its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expel the Cambodian envoy from Bangkok.
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The following morning, the two militaries exchanged shots across the border near the sites of several ancient temples, including the Preah Vihear Temple, which has been designated by the United Nations as a world heritage site. Among the nine civilians killed was an 8-year-old boy, with 14 others injured, the Royal Thai Army said in a statement. A gas station, residences and other structures were also damaged.
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Thailand — a U.S. security treaty ally — then flew an F-16 fighter jet over Cambodia, dropping bombs on what it said were two military targets.
Cambodia confirmed the airstrikes, saying munitions had been dropped on a road leading to a pagoda. Authorities were still verifying whether there had been any civilian casualties from the day.
Each military has blamed the other for opening fire first on Thursday morning.
Chhum Socheat, spokesperson for Cambodia’s Defense Ministry, said Cambodian soldiers had approached Thai soldiers who were laying barbed wire around a temple in disputed territory. “The Thai soldiers fired first, and then we fought back for defense,” he said in a phone interview. “We exercised our right to self-defense.”
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In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Thailand launched “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate” attacks on Cambodian positions. The clashes, he added, stemmed from Thailand’s claims of sovereignty over border areas.
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Thai officials dispute that. The military said Cambodian personnel began shooting first, attacking Thai troops with rocket-propelled grenades and firing heavy artillery at a Thai military base. “Such actions fundamentally contradict the principles of good neighborly relations and good faith and will further undermine Cambodia’s reputation and credibility on the global stage,” the Thai Foreign Ministry said.
In 2011, similar clashes between the two nations killed 20 people and drove thousands on both sides of the border from their homes.
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The recent violence has led to swelling hostility between the two populations.
After Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was caught on a phone call appearing deferential to Cambodian leaders over the dispute, Thai legislators and members of the public responded with outrage, prompting calls for her to resign. She was suspended from official duties this month as Thailand’s Constitutional Court evaluates her removal.