Thailand, Cambodia trade blame as border clashes enter Day 3 amid rising deaths and calls for ceasefire
A long-running border dispute erupted into intense conflict involving jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis Friday.
Cambodia's defence ministry said 13 people were now confirmed killed in the fighting, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded. In Thailand, the army said five soldiers were killed on Friday, taking the toll there to 20 -- 14 civilians and six military.
The death toll across the two countries is now higher than the 28 killed in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011.
Both sides reported a clash around 5:00 am (2200 GMT Friday), with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing "five heavy artillery shells" into locations in Pursat province, which borders Thailand's Trat province -- on the coast some 250 kilometres (160 miles) southwest of the main frontlines.
AFP journalists in the Cambodian town of Samraong, near the ridge of forest-clad hills that marks the border and has seen the bulk of the fighting, heard the thump of artillery early Saturday afternoon.
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First Post
39 minutes ago
- First Post
Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire after deadly border clashes
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire after five days of intense border fighting that displaced over 300,000 people and left at least 38 dead. read more Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim looks on as Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai take part in mediation talks on the Thailand–Cambodia border conflict, in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Reuters Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' beginning at midnight (1700 GMT) on Monday to attempt to end their bloodiest battle in more than a decade, following five days of combat that displaced over 300,000 people. Following efforts by Malaysia, chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, the United States, and China to bring both sides to the table, the leaders of the two nations agreed to end hostilities, restart direct communications, and establish a mechanism to carry out the cease-fire. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,' Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told a news conference, flanked by the Thai and Cambodian leaders, following more than two hours of negotiations at his residence in Putrajaya. The peace discussions came after Anwar's persistent efforts and US President Donald Trump's phone conversations to both leaders over the weekend, during which he stated that if violence persisted, he would not sign trade agreements with them. Both parties face 36% tariffs on their goods in the United States, their largest export market. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump congratulated all parties and stated that he had talked with Thai and Cambodian officials and authorised his trade team to restart discussions. 'By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives … I have now ended many Wars in just six months — I am proud to be the President of PEACE!,' Trump said. Decades of disputes The Southeast Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over border territory and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides. A full-blown diplomatic crisis ensued that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They accuse each other of starting the fighting last week that escalated quickly from small arms fire to the use of heavy artillery and rockets at multiple points along their 800-km (500-mile) land border. Thailand unexpectedly sent an F-16 fighter jet to carry out airstrikes hours after the conflict erupted. At least 38 people have been killed in the fighting, mostly civilians. Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayacha praised Trump for pushing the peace effort and said trade negotiations would start from a good place. 'I thanked him from my heart for what we received from him and helped our country move beyond this crisis,' he told reporters on his return from Malaysia after speaking to Trump. 'After today the situation should de-escalate.' The simmering tensions boiled over last week after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged Cambodian troops had laid. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cambodia has strongly denied the charge, as well as Thai accusations that it has fired at civilian targets including schools and hospitals. It had accused Thailand of 'unprovoked and premeditated military aggression'. 'Decisive mediation' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said his Thai counterpart had played a positive role and he deeply appreciated Trump's 'decisive mediation' and China's constructive participation. 'We agreed that the fighting will stop immediately,' he said, adding both sides could rebuild trust and confidence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement said he and Trump expected all sides to 'fully honour their commitments to end this conflict'. The fighting has scarred border communities on both sides. In Thailand's Sisaket province, a house was reduced to splintered wood and twisted beams after it was struck by artillery fire from Cambodia. The roof had caved in, windows hung by the frame and power lines drooped over the structure. Amid the din of occasional artillery fire, homes and shops remained shut and a four-lane road was deserted except for a few cars and military vehicles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dozens of displaced residents lined up quietly for their evening meal at an evacuation centre about 40 km away from the frontlines. A few children played with dogs, others swept the dusty floor. Fifty-four-year-old Nong Ngarmsri just wanted to go back to her village. 'I want to go to my children who stayed back,' she said. 'I want them to cease firing so that I can go home.'
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First Post
39 minutes ago
- First Post
Trump to restart trade talks as Thailand and Cambodia agree to truce
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had instructed his trade team to resume negotiations on trade with Thailand and Cambodia after the two nations agreed to a ceasefire. read more US President Donald Trump on Monday directed his trade negotiators to reopen discussions with Thailand and Cambodia after both nations agreed to halt hostilities and implement an immediate ceasefire. 'I just spoke to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand and the Prime Minister of Cambodia,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'I have instructed my trade team to restart negotiations on trade.' The breakthrough follows an agreement by the two Southeast Asian neighbours to enforce an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' beginning at midnight (1700 GMT), ending five days of intense cross-border fighting—considered the worst between the two countries in over a decade. The violence has killed at least 36 people, mostly civilians, and forced more than 300,000 to flee their homes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ceasefire announcement comes after diplomatic pressure from Malaysia, which chairs the ASEAN bloc, along with active mediation efforts by the United States and China. Following more than two hours of talks in Putrajaya, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, joined by the Thai and Cambodian leaders, said all sides had agreed to a framework to maintain peace, restore communication, and oversee truce implementation. 'This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,' he told a press conference. 'All parties shared a commitment to peace." The Southeast Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over border territory and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides. A full-blown diplomatic crisis brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. They accuse each other of starting the fighting last week, both quickly deploying heavy artillery at multiple points along their 800-km (500-mile) land border. Thailand flew air raids with an F-16 fighter jet. With inputs from agencies
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Business Standard
39 minutes ago
- Business Standard
'Prez of Peace': Trade threat helped broker Cambodia-Thai truce, says Trump
The truce talks followed a sustained effort by Anwar and US President Donald Trump's phone calls to both leaders at the weekend Reuters Malaysia Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" from midnight (1700 GMT) on Monday, to try to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade after five days of fighting that displaced more than 300,000 people. Following efforts by Malaysia, chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, the United States and China to bring both sides to the table, the two countries' leaders agreed to end hostilities, resume direct communications and create a mechanism to implement the ceasefire. "This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security," Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told a news conference, flanked by the Thai and Cambodian leaders, following more than two hours of negotiations at his residence in Putrajaya. The truce talks followed a sustained effort by Anwar and US President Donald Trump's phone calls to both leaders at the weekend, where he said he would not conclude trade deals with them if fighting continued. Both sides face a tariff of 36% on their goods in the US, their biggest export market. Trump in a post on Truth Social on Monday congratulated all parties and said he spoken to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and instructed his trade team to restart negotiations. "By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives ... I have now ended many Wars in just six months I am proud to be the President of PEACE!," Trump said. Decades of disputes The Southeast Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over border territory and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides. A full-blown diplomatic crisis ensued that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. They accuse each other of starting the fighting last week that escalated quickly from small arms fire to the use of heavy artillery and rockets at multiple points along their 800-km (500-mile) land border. Thailand unexpectedly sent an F-16 fighter jet to carry out airstrikes hours after the conflict erupted. At least 38 people have been killed in the fighting, mostly civilians. Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayacha praised Trump for pushing the peace effort and said trade negotiations would start from a good place. "I thanked him from my heart for what we received from him and helped our country move beyond this crisis," he told reporters on his return from Malaysia after speaking to Trump. "After today the situation should de-escalate." The simmering tensions boiled over last week after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged Cambodian troops had laid. Cambodia has strongly denied the charge, as well as Thai accusations that it has fired at civilian targets including schools and hospitals. It had accused Thailand of "unprovoked and premeditated military aggression". 'Decisive Mediation' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said his Thai counterpart had played a positive role and he deeply appreciated Trump's "decisive mediation" and China's constructive participation. "We agreed that the fighting will stop immediately," he said, adding both sides could rebuild trust and confidence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement said he and Trump expected all sides to "fully honour their commitments to end this conflict". The fighting has scarred border communities on both sides. In Thailand's Sisaket province, a house was reduced to splintered wood and twisted beams after it was struck by artillery fire from Cambodia. The roof had caved in, windows hung by the frame and power lines drooped over the structure. Amid the din of occasional artillery fire, homes and shops remained shut and a four-lane road was deserted except for a few cars and military vehicles. Dozens of displaced residents lined up quietly for their evening meal at an evacuation centre about 40 km away from the frontlines. A few children played with dogs, others swept the dusty floor. Fifty-four-year-old Nong Ngarmsri just wanted to go back to her village. "I want to go to my children who stayed back," she said. "I want them to cease firing so that I can go home."
