Desk Report,
Thailand attacks Cambodia with F-16 fighter jets
The military of Thailand and Cambodia have clashed over a border dispute. At least 12 people have been killed in the clash in Thailand, the Bangkok government said. The two neighboring countries exchanged fire on Thursday. Thailand bombed Cambodia with F-16 fighter jets during the clash.
Thailand attacks Cambodia with F-16 fighter jets
The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand is more than a century old. The disputed area on the border is known as the ‘Emerald Triangle’. Cambodia-Thailand hostility officially escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century temple in this area. Since then, there have been casualties in border clashes between the two countries for years.
The first exchange of fire between the forces of the two countries took place today near a temple called Ta Moan Thom on the border. They are blaming each other for starting the conflict. Thailand claims that the conflict started due to the deployment of drones by Cambodia to monitor its forces near the border. Cambodia claims that Thai forces advanced towards the temple in violation of the agreement. According to Thai authorities, Cambodian attacks have caused casualties in the provinces of Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Srisaket. Thai Health Minister Samsak Thepsuthin said that 11 of the 12 people killed in the attack were civilians, including a child. There is also a soldier. 24 civilians and 7 soldiers were injured in the Cambodian shelling.
However, the Cambodian government did not immediately report any casualties. A statement from the country’s defense ministry said that Thai warplanes dropped two bombs on a Cambodian road. Thai military official Richa Suksuanon, who acknowledged the bombing, told Reuters that one of their F-16 fighter jets had hit a Cambodian military target.
Cambodia and Thailand have asked their residents to evacuate their respective border areas after the conflict began. The Bangkok government is evacuating 40,000 people to safer places. In addition, Thailand has closed its border with Cambodia. And Cambodia has downgraded relations with its neighboring country. Cambodia alleges that the Thai military has used “excessive force.”
The recent tensions between the two countries began in May. At that time, a Cambodian soldier was killed in the conflict. The two countries have also increased their military presence on the border in the past few weeks. In the meantime, a Thai soldier was injured in a landmine explosion on the border. Then, Thailand recalled its ambassador from Cambodia last Wednesday. The Cambodian ambassador was also threatened with expulsion. This increased tensions.
After the conflict began, Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechachaichai said that the conflict between the two countries must be resolved in accordance with international law. On the other hand, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that his country also wants a peaceful solution. However, there is no other way but to respond to military ‘aggression’ militarily. In such a situation, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on both sides to remain calm. He is the current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an alliance of Southeast Asian nations. Thailand and Cambodia are members of this alliance.
