Latest news with #military aggression
Sky News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Eleven civilians killed as Thailand and Cambodia exchange fire in escalating border dispute
Eleven Thai civilians and a soldier have been killed in clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, officials have said, as long-standing tensions in disputed border areas boiled over into open conflict. Among those killed was an eight-year-old boy, the army said in a statement. It said most casualties occurred in Si Sa Ket province, where six people were killed after shots were fired at a fuel station. Another 14 people have been injured in three Thai border provinces. Thailand's health minister Somsak Thepsuthin confirmed the fatalities to reporters, adding Cambodia's actions, including an attack on a hospital, should be considered war crimes. Both countries accuse one another of starting the military clashes and have downgraded their diplomatic relations in the rapidly escalating dispute. Thailand has also sealed all land border crossings with Cambodia. Early on Thursday, a Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia, according to Thailand's army. "We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon said. Cambodia's defence ministry said Thai jets had dropped bombs on a road near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, saying it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia". 'Civilian areas targeted' Clashes are ongoing in at least six areas along the border, the Thai defence ministry said. Thailand's foreign ministry said Cambodian troops fired "heavy artillery" on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas, including a hospital. "The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defence measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand's sovereignty," the ministry said in a statement. A livestream video from Thailand's side showed people, including children and the elderly, running from their homes and hiding in a concrete bunker as explosions sounded. The clash happened in an area where the ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple stands along the border between Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. 'Conflict not spreading' Thailand's acting premier said fighting must first stop before peace talks can start. Caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters there had been no declaration of war and conflict was not spreading into more provinces. He said Cambodia had fired heavy weapons into Thailand without any specific targets, resulting in civilian deaths. Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia downgraded diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelled the Thai ambassador and recalled all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. This border dispute is nothing new. It dates back more than a century. There have been clashes in the past and people killed and they've turned down the heat quickly. But be in no doubt, this is a serious inflection point - the worst hostilities between these two neighbours in more than a decade. And while a full-scale war still seems unlikely, the political dynamics in the two nations could create some serious jeopardy. Two strongmen are playing an outsized role from the sidelines, both determined to show some political flex - Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen and Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra - both of their children have been leading their nations, but not exactly from the front. The two families were close. But recently, Hun Sen infuriated Mr Shinawatra when he leaked a phone call with his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn, that led to her suspension. So there's anger in Thailand and a Cambodian economy that's struggling. The Cambodian leadership was infuriated by Thailand closing their border and thus crushing much needed trade. But there are also a lot of friendly nations in ASEAN who are meant to ensure none of their members fight. They will be pushing hard to find the off-ramp as soon as possible. The day before, its neighbour withdrew its ambassador and expelled the top Cambodian diplomat in protest after five Thai soldiers were wounded in a land mine blast, one of whom lost part of a leg. A week earlier, a land mine in a different contested area exploded and wounded three Thai soldiers, including one who lost a foot. Relations between the southeast Asian neighbours have collapsed after a Cambodian soldier was killed in an armed confrontation in a disputed border area in May. Nationalist passions on both sides have further inflamed the situation, and Thailand's prime minister was suspended earlier this month as an investigation was opened into possible ethics violations over her handling of the border dispute. Border disputes are longstanding issues that have caused periodic tensions between the countries. The most prominent and violent conflicts have been around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice recognised Cambodian sovereignty over the temple area.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Thailand F-16 jet bombs Cambodian targets as border clash escalates
A Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia on Thursday, both sides said, as weeks of tension over a border dispute escalated into clashes that have killed at least nine civilians, including a child. Of the six F-16 fighter jets that Thailand readied to deploy along the disputed border, one of the aircraft fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target, the Thai army said. Both countries accused each other of starting the clash early on Thursday. "We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Thailand also closed its border with Cambodia. Cambodia's defense ministry said the jets dropped two bombs on a road, and that it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia." The skirmishes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia late on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia's envoy in Bangkok, after a second Thai soldier in the space of a week lost a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently in the disputed area. Thailand's foreign ministry said Cambodian troops fired "heavy artillery" on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas, including a hospital, leading to civilian casualties. "The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand's sovereignty," the ministry said in a statement. Thai residents, including children and the elderly, ran to shelters built of concrete and fortified with sandbags and car tires in the Surin border province. "How many rounds have been fired? It's countless," an unidentified woman told the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS) while hiding in the shelter as gunfire and explosions were heard intermittently in the background. Cambodia's foreign ministry said Thailand's air strikes were "unprovoked" and called on its neighbor to withdraw its forces and "refrain from any further provocative actions that could escalate the situation." For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, which has led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011. Tensions were reignited in May following the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief exchange of gunfire, which escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis and now has triggered armed clashes. The clashes began early on Thursday near the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, located along the border between Cambodia and Thailand, approximately 360 km (225 miles) east of the Thai capital, Bangkok. Thailand's military said in a statement that nine people have been killed across three border provinces, including an 8-year-old boy in Surin. "Artillery shell fell on people's homes," Sutthirot Charoenthanasak, district chief of Kabcheing in Surin province, told Reuters, adding that district authorities had evacuated 40,000 civilians from 86 villages near the border to safer locations. "Two people have died," he added. Video footage showed a plume of thick, black smoke rising from a gas station in the neighboring Thai province of Sisaket, as firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze. Six people were killed and 10 wounded at the site, the military said, adding another person was killed in the border province of Ubon Ratchathani. "The Thai Army condemns Cambodia for using weapons to attack civilians in Thailand. Thailand is ready to protect sovereignty and our people from inhumane action," it said in a statement. The military said Cambodia deployed a surveillance drone before sending troops with heavy weapons to an area near the Ta Moan Thom temple. Cambodian troops opened fire, and two Thai soldiers were wounded, a Thai army spokesperson said, adding Cambodia had used multiple weapons, including rocket launchers. A spokesperson for Cambodia's defense ministry, however, said there had been an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops and Cambodian forces had responded in self-defense.
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Thailand deploys fighter jet in border dispute escalation with Cambodia, killing at least 12
A Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia, both sides said, as weeks of tension over a border dispute escalated into clashes on Thursday that have killed at least 12 people, including 11 civilians. Of the six F-16 fighter jets that Thailand readied to deploy along the disputed border, one of the aircraft fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target, the Thai army said. Both countries accused each other of starting the clash early on Thursday. "We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Thailand also closed its border with Cambodia. Cambodia's defence ministry said the jets dropped two bombs on a road, and that it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia." The skirmishes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia late on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia's envoy in Bangkok, after a second Thai soldier in the space of a week lost a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently in the disputed area. For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometre land border, which has led to skirmishes over several years. Thailand's health minister said 11 civilians, including a child, and one soldier were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces, while 24 civilians and seven military personnel were wounded. There was no immediate word of casualties in Cambodia. "The Thai Army condemns Cambodia for using weapons to attack civilians in Thailand. Thailand is ready to protect sovereignty and our people from inhumane action," the country's military said in a statement. Regional powers urge calm China's foreign ministry on Thursday said it is deeply concerned about ongoing developments along the Thailand-Cambodia border and hopes that both sides will properly address issues through dialogue and consultations. China will play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference, adding that China upholds a just and impartial stance. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, the current chair of Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN in which Thailand and Cambodia are also members, urged calm and said he would speak to leaders of both countries to peacefully resolve their dispute. Thai residents including children and the elderly ran to shelters built of concrete and fortified with sandbags and car tires in the Surin border province. "How many rounds have been fired? It's countless," an unidentified woman told the Thai Public Broadcasting Service while hiding in the shelter as gunfire and explosions were heard intermittently in the background. Cambodia's foreign ministry said Thailand's airstrikes were "unprovoked" and called on its neighbour to withdraw its forces and "refrain from any further provocative actions that could escalate the situation." Tensions were reignited in May following the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief exchange of gunfire, which escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis and now has triggered armed clashes. The clashes began early on Thursday near the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple along the border between Cambodia and Thailand, around 360 kilometres east of the Thai capital Bangkok. Thailand's Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin told reporters Cambodian shelling included a strike on a hospital in Surin province, which he said should be considered a war crime. "Artillery shell fell on people's homes," Sutthirot Charoenthanasak, district chief of Kabcheing in Surin province, told Reuters, adding authorities had evacuated 40,000 civilians from 86 border villages to safer locations. "Two people have died," he added. Landmine accusation denied by Cambodia Video footage showed a plume of thick black smoke rising from a gas station in the neighbouring Thai Sisaket province, as firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze. A total of eight people have been killed and 15 wounded in Sisaket, the health minister said, adding another person was killed in the border province of Ubon Ratchathani. The army said Cambodia deployed a surveillance drone before sending troops with heavy weapons, including rocket launchers, to an area near the Ta Moan Thom temple. A spokesperson for Cambodia's defence ministry, however, said there had been an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops and Cambodian forces had responded in self-defence. Thailand's acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the situation was delicate. "We have to be careful," he told reporters. "We will follow international law." Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a Facebook post that two Cambodian provinces had come under shelling from the Thai military. Thailand this week accused Cambodia of placing landmines in a disputed area that injured three soldiers. Phnom Penh denied the claim and said the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered a mine left behind from decades of war.
Sky News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Nine civilians killed as Thailand and Cambodia exchange fire in escalating border dispute
Eleven Thai civilians and a soldier have been killed in clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, officials have said, as long-standing tensions in disputed border areas boils over. Among those killed was an eight-year-old boy, the army said in a statement. It said most casualties occurred in Si Sa Ket province, where six people were killed after shots were fired at a fuel station. Another 14 people have been injured in three Thai border provinces. Thailand's health minister Somsak Thepsuthin confirmed the fatalities to reporters, adding Cambodia's actions, including an attack on a hospital, should be considered war crimes. Both countries accuse one another of starting the military clashes and have downgraded their diplomatic relations in the rapidly escalating dispute. Thailand has also sealed all land border crossings with Cambodia. Early on Thursday, a Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia, according to Thailand's army. "We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon said. Cambodia's defence ministry said Thai jets had dropped bombs on a road near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, saying it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia". Clashes are ongoing in at least six areas along the border, the Thai defence ministry said. Thailand's foreign ministry said Cambodian troops fired "heavy artillery" on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas, including a hospital. "The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defence measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand's sovereignty," the ministry said in a statement. A livestream video from Thailand's side showed people, including children and the elderly, running from their homes and hiding in a concrete bunker as explosions sounded. The clash happened in an area where the ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple stands along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia downgraded diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelled the Thai ambassador and recalled all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. The day before, its neighbour withdrew its ambassador and expelled the top Cambodian diplomat in protest after five Thai soldiers were wounded in a land mine blast, one of whom lost part of a leg. A week earlier, a land mine in a different contested area exploded and wounded three Thai soldiers, including one who lost a foot. Relations between the southeast Asian neighbours have collapsed after a Cambodian soldier was killed in an armed confrontation in a disputed border area in May. Nationalist passions on both sides have further inflamed the situation, and Thailand's prime minister was suspended earlier this month as an investigation was opened into possible ethics violations over her handling of the border dispute. Border disputes are longstanding issues that have caused periodic tensions between the countries. The most prominent and violent conflicts have been around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple.
