General
Cross-border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has intensified, displacing over 130,000 people and raising fears of a full-scale war. Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned that the situation “could develop into war” as deadly strikes continued for a second day.
This long-running border dispute has now escalated into intense combat involving jets, artillery, tanks, and ground troops. Consequently, the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting today to address the crisis.
On the Cambodian side, a 70-year-old civilian was killed and five others wounded in Oddar Meanchey province due to artillery strikes. Meanwhile, Thailand’s health ministry reported that more than 138,000 people have been evacuated from its border regions. The clashes have resulted in 15 fatalities, including 14 civilians and one soldier, with 46 others wounded, among them 15 troops. Clearly, the human cost of this conflict is significant.
Diplomatic Efforts and Renewed Fighting
Despite diplomatic efforts, fighting resumed early Friday morning, as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, current chair of ASEAN, held talks with both leaders, urging a ceasefire and dialogue. He expressed optimism about their willingness to find a path forward. However, the Thai army confirmed renewed bombardments by Cambodian forces using heavy weapons and rockets, to which Thai troops responded with appropriate supporting fire. This dramatic escalation highlights the ongoing dispute over the shared 800-kilometer frontier.
The border dispute has a long history, with previous conflicts between 2008 and 2011 resulting in at least 28 deaths and tens of thousands displaced. A 2013 UN court ruling aimed to settle the matter, but a new clash in May, which killed a Cambodian soldier, reignited tensions. Thursday’s fighting concentrated around six locations, including two ancient temples, with ground troops, supported by tanks, battled for territorial control. Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand, prompting Thailand to scramble F-16 jets to target military installations across the border, as both sides blame each other for initiating the attacks.
International Reactions and Calls for Peace
However, Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital and a petrol station hours after it expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own envoy due to a landmine incident. Cambodia, in turn, downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled Thai diplomats. At the request of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting.
Consequently, The US and France have urged an immediate end to the conflict, as the EU and China, a close ally of Phnom Penh, expressed deep concern and called for dialogue. This ongoing conflict underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
Short link :
Post Views: 31