Thailand and Cambodia have fought their bloodiest military clashes in more than a decade – with at least 12 people killed – as the two sides battled with tanks, artillery and ground forces over a disputed border zone.
The fighting marks a significant escalation in a long-running spat between the two neighbours – both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists – over an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet.
The decades-old dispute flared into bloody clashes more than 15 years ago, and again in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed.
In the latest clashes, Cambodia fired rockets and artillery shells into Thailand and the Thai military scrambled F-16 jets to carry out air strikes.
The public health ministry in Bangkok said that one soldier and at least 11 civilians were killed, most of them in a rocket strike near a petrol station in Sisaket province.
Footage from the scene showed smoke pouring from a shop attached to the station.
Provincial officials said that most of the dead were students who were inside the store when the attack happened.
A number of people were killed when a Cambodian rocket hit a Thai petrol station (Credit: Royal Thai Army)
Thailand said that 35 people have been injured in the trouble and accused Cambodia of targeting civilian buildings.
A 30-bed hospital in the town of Phanom Dong Rak in Surin province, just 15km from the border, was hit by shelling. Windows were shattered and part of a roof collapsed.
The facility, which was also struck in the last major clashes between the two countries in 2011, had been partially evacuated as a precaution.
“We got a tip-off that there would be an attack from Cambodia,” a soldier stationed at the entrance said.
“There is no telling when it will be safe enough for patients to return.”
Thai residents run for cover as border with Cambodia erupts in gunfire
Fighting was focused on six locations, the Thai army said, with ground troops and tanks battling Cambodian forces for control of territory.
Six air force planes from Thailand were deployed, hitting two “Cambodian military targets on the ground”, according to Thai military deputy spokesperson Ritcha Suksuwanon.
Cambodia has not yet commented on casualties on its side. Defence ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata refused to answer when asked about the issue at a news conference.
Cambodian soldiers reload a rocket launcher in Preah Vihear province
Journalists met Cambodians fleeing their villages near the Thai border to escape the fighting.
“We dare not to stay, they were fighting so bad that my house was shaking,” said one of them.
“We already dug a bunker but we dared not stay because we were scared that they will keep fighting at night.”
Both sides blame the other for starting the fighting, which erupted near two temples on the border.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address what his foreign ministry described as “unprovoked military aggression”.
Thailand’s embassy in Phnom Penh urged its nationals to leave Cambodia “as soon as possible”.
Both the European Union and China, a close ally of Phnom Penh, said they were “deeply concerned” about the clashes, calling for dialogue.
The United States and France – Cambodia’s former colonial ruler – also called separately for an immediate halt to fighting and for talks to begin.
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The violence came hours after Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own envoy after five members of a Thai military patrol were wounded by a landmine.
Cambodia downgraded ties to “the lowest level”, pulling out all but one of its diplomats and expelling their Thai equivalents from Phnom Penh.
The border row also kicked off a domestic political crisis in Thailand, where Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office pending an ethics inquiry into her conduct.
A diplomatic call between Ms Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, Cambodia’s former longtime ruler and father of Hun Manet, was leaked from the Cambodian side, sparking a judicial investigation.
Don’t travel to border zone, Irish citizens told
The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised Irish citizens “against all travel to the entirety of the border region between Thailand and Cambodia”.
It said that “border crossings are subject to restrictions and closures and there may be a possibility of disruption to air travel between the two countries.
“We strongly advise citizens against any attempt to approach or cross the border.
“The situation remains very fluid and Irish citizens in Thailand – or intending to visit the country – should pay close attention to authoritative sources of information and advice, and remain vigilant at all times.”
