Border Clashes Continue Between Thailand and Cambodia
Thailand and Cambodia are experiencing ongoing border clashes this Sunday, marking the fourth consecutive day of violence. Despite attempts at a ceasefire and calls for dialogue from international leaders, the conflict has resulted in at least 32 fatalities, numerous injuries, and thousands of displaced individuals, reports 24brussels.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense has accused Thailand of exacerbating the situation, claiming Bangkok is engaged in aggressive incursions into Cambodian territory. Cambodian Defense spokesperson Maly Socheata stated that the Thai military is utilizing heavy weaponry, including cluster bombs and fighter jets, in the conflict.
In response, the Thai Army has reported that artillery from Cambodia is targeting the provinces of Surin and Ubon Ratchathani, further inflaming tensions between the two nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump, after discussions with both countries’ leaders, announced on Saturday that they agreed to meet urgently to negotiate a ceasefire in an effort to end the hostilities along the border.
The UN Secretary-General has called for “utmost restraint” amid the escalating tensions, prompting a closed-door meeting of the Security Council on Friday to address the most significant flare-up between Thailand and Cambodia in over a decade.
Bangkok and Phnom Penh have long contested their shared borders, a dispute that has led to multiple confrontations over the years, including skirmishes from 2008 to 2011 that resulted in approximately thirty deaths. The most recent tensions reignited in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in an altercation between the two military forces.
