Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier
Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a third straight day on Saturday, as a border conflict that has killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 from their homes spread across the frontier.
Clashes broke out for the first time in the countries' coastal regions where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand, around 250 kilometres (160 miles) southwest of the main front lines, thumping with blasts on Saturday afternoon.
"It feels like I'm escaping a war zone," 76-year-old Samlee Sornchai told AFP at a temple shelter for evacuees in the Thai town of Kanthararom, after abandoning his farm near the embattled frontier.
Both sides say they are open to a truce, after a long-running border dispute erupted into combat with jets, tanks and ground troops this week, but each has accused the other of undermining armistice efforts.
In a bid to end the conflict, US President Donald Trump said he spoke to Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Saturday and both wanted "an immediate Ceasefire, and PEACE".
"After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He also indicated he would not move forward on trade deals with either nation until fighting has stopped.
Like most countries, the Southeast Asian neighbours are facing steep import tariffs from Washington if they do not secure a trade agreement with the Trump administration by August 1.
Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites before fighting spread along the rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice.
Cambodia's defence ministry said 13 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting since Thursday, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded.
Thai authorities say 13 civilians and seven soldiers have died on their side, taking the toll across both nations higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011.
Both sides reported a coastline clash early Saturday, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing "five heavy artillery shells" into Pursat province, bordering Thailand's Trat province.
The conflict has also forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand's border regions, and more than 35,000 driven from their homes in Cambodia.
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