Phnom Penh [Cambodia]/Bangkok [Thailand], December 9 (ANI): Cambodia on Tuesday said that Thailand’s military has resumed attacks in border areas, killing at least two people.
Cambodia’s Information Ministry, cited by Khmer Times, reported at least seven civilians killed overnight and this morning, and about 20 people injured. Thailand said two more of its soldiers were killed in the latest clashes, raising the Thai death toll to three since fighting began on December 7, the Bangkok Post cited the Royal Thai Army.
The Cambodian Defence Ministry said in a statement, as reported by Khmer Times, that intense shelling by Thai forces took place from 8:39 pm on December 8 until 8 am on December 9 in Chok Chey and Prey Chan villages. It added that Thai forces deployed drones for aerial reconnaissance in Boeung Trakuon and expanded operations to Boeung Pring, Thmar Pouk, and Komrieng districts in Battambang Province, using heavy weapons and firing gas.
The ministry said shelling targeting Thmar Pouk district in Banteay Meanchey Province killed two civilians who were fleeing on Cambodia’s National Road 56.
Bangkok accused Cambodia of continual provocation, including firing weapons and planting landmines, and said it had to retaliate. Thai military officials reported that clashes had spread to six of the seven provinces bordering Cambodia and said a Thai Navy-led operation was underway in Trat province to expel Cambodian soldiers. They alleged Cambodian use of artillery, rocket launchers and bomb-dropping drones against Thai forces.
The latest escalation followed a truce brokered on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in late October, when Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian leader Hun Manet agreed to halt hostilities. That ceasefire followed violent military clashes in July that left nearly four dozen people dead and displaced an estimated more than 300,000 people.
Al Jazeera reported that, under the deal brokered by Malaysia and the US, both countries agreed to military de-escalation, including removing heavy weaponry and landmines from the border under ASEAN supervision, and to stop online information warfare fueling the conflict. Thailand said it would release 18 Cambodian soldiers it had held since July 29. Since October, renewed clashes and mutual accusations have threatened the ceasefire; last month Thailand said it would suspend implementing the deal after one of its soldiers was wounded in a landmine explosion.
Al Jazeera said Thailand has not yet released the 18 Cambodian soldiers and would do so when Cambodia abides by its side of the agreement. (ANI)
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