Thailand and Cambodia Exchange Fire in Deadly Border Clashes
Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into violent confrontations on Thursday, leaving at least 14 people dead and dozens more injured, as both nations exchanged artillery fire and airstrikes near the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple.* Thai officials confirmed that a Cambodian shelling campaign killed 13 civilians and one Thai soldier, prompting the Thai military to launch retaliatory airstrikes into northwestern Cambodia. Six Thai F-16 fighter jets reportedly bombed Cambodian military targets following attacks that hit civilian areas, including a petrol station and a hospital zone. The fighting erupted early Thursday morning near the ancient Ta Moan Thom Temple in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. According to Thailand’s military, the violence began when Cambodian drones and troops approached the Thai border before launching rocket attacks into Surin and Sisaket provinces. Cambodian forces allegedly fired BM-21 multiple rocket launchers, including a strike near a hospital and a petrol station in Ban Phue, which killed six civilians. Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, a senior Thai military official, said clashes quickly spread to at least six points along the border, leading to the closure of official border crossings. In response, Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai denied any declaration of war but insisted that the fighting must stop before any negotiations could begin. Health Minister Thepsuthin Somsak condemned Cambodia’s attacks as “war crimes,” citing the shelling of civilian areas, including an already evacuated hospital. The violence has triggered mass evacuations, with over 40,000 civilians fleeing more than 80 villages near the border. Local authorities have set up emergency shelters fortified with sandbags and concrete, as verified videos showed displaced residents fleeing on foot with bags of belongings. Cambodia’s Defence Ministry, however, blamed Thailand for provoking the confrontation, claiming Thai forces first deployed a drone and fired across the border. It described its actions as self-defence in response to an alleged Thai incursion. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, stating that Thailand’s actions “gravely threatened peace in the region.” Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also weighed in, accusing Thailand of shelling Cambodian provinces and forcing Cambodia’s military to defend its territory. As both sides trade blame, regional leaders and international observers are calling for urgent de-escalation to prevent the crisis from spiraling into a broader conflict.