In a significant escalation of border tensions, troops from Thailand and Cambodia exchanged gunfire at the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple site, leading both governments to accuse each other of initiating the conflict.
Escalating Tensions: Thai and Cambodian Troops Engage in Violent Border Clash
Escalating Tensions: Thai and Cambodian Troops Engage in Violent Border Clash
A fierce confrontation between Thai and Cambodian forces unfolds at their disputed border, with both nations trading accusations of aggression.
Troops from Thailand and Cambodia clashed early Thursday at a contested area along their border, culminating in mutual accusations of aggression. The Thai military reported that Cambodian forces opened fire near the Khmer temple Ta Muen Thom, an area that has seen building tensions recently. In contrast, Cambodia’s defense ministry claimed its soldiers were acting in self-defense after being provoked by Thai troops.
Reports indicate that Cambodia had deployed a surveillance drone prior to the skirmish, followed by the mobilization of heavily armed troops. The Thai military noted that at least two Thai soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Maly Socheata, a spokeswoman for the Cambodian defense ministry, justified the engagement, asserting that their forces were defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity against acts of aggression from Thailand. She further accused Thailand of violating Cambodian territorial boundaries.
The exchange has prompted reactions from both governments, with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen sharing on social media that parts of two Cambodian provinces faced shelling from Thai forces. He reassured the public to remain calm, while Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized Cambodia's desire for peaceful resolutions but acknowledged the necessity of responding with armed force given the circumstances.
On the Thai side, acting Premier Phumtham Wechayachai described the ongoing dispute with Cambodia as "delicate" and emphasized the need for careful handling aligned with international law. This armed clash occurs on the heels of heightened diplomatic tensions; Thailand recently recalled its ambassador from Cambodia and announced plans to expel Cambodia's ambassador following a landmine explosion injuring a Thai soldier along the border.
The bilateral relationship between Thailand and Cambodia has soured significantly in recent months, following armed encounters in May that resulted in a Cambodian soldier's death. In recent weeks, both nations have implemented reciprocal restrictions and bolstered military presence along the border, signaling a troubling increase in confrontations.
