- The artillery bombardments were followed by Thai airstrikes killing 11 civilians and a soldier in Sisaket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
- More than 40,000 civilians in 86 villages have been evacuated to armed fortifications along the border between Thailand and Cambodia.
- Political fallout worsened when a leaked phone conversation between a suspended Prime Minister in Thailand and the former leader in Cambodia damaged diplomatic relations.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated sharply after deadly cross-border fighting killed a number of civilians and prompted retaliatory air strikes. The Thai army on Thursday launched precision air strikes against Cambodian military targets along the disputed border.
The strikes followed a string of border clashes that killed several Thai civilians in border provinces along the southeastern frontier. Cambodia issued a defiant statement, vowing to act firmly. Military confrontations have since extended to at least six hotspots along the border, with Thai authorities ordering the temporary closure of all official border checkpoints between the two countries
Border Clashes Kill 12, Injure Dozens in Thailand
Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri confirmed that fighting erupted in at least six locations across the border. In Sisaket province, artillery shelling near a petrol station in Ban Phue left six civilians dead and two wounded. Other casualties were reported in Surin province in the Kabcheing district, with two civilians, including an eight-year-old boy, being killed in Ban Chorok. In the same incident, two other people were injured. Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani province recorded one civilian death and another injury from ongoing shellfire.
In total, 11 civilians and one Thai soldier have died, according to Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. Twenty-four civilians and seven military personnel have also been injured in the conflict. Somsak accused Cambodian forces of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital, calling the incident a potential war crime. Cambodia has not issued casualty reports on its side.
Diplomatic Fallout and Political Tensions Intensify
The conflict comes amid heightened political turmoil in Thailand. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended earlier this month after a leaked call revealed critical remarks about Thai military strategy made to Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. Both governments have since downgraded diplomatic ties, pushing bilateral relations to their lowest point in recent years.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated there would be no negotiations until hostilities cease. He emphasized that Thailand had not declared war and that fighting had not expanded beyond the border provinces.
Civilian Evacuations and Humanitarian Concerns Mount
Thai local government officials have confirmed that over 40,000 civilians from 86 villages have been moved to safety. They are seeking shelter in bunkers of concrete, sandbags, and car tires. Local Surin provincial authorities are coordinating relief as the cost of humanity increases. Foreign viewers, meanwhile, are urging restraint as tensions remain high on the 500-mile border mostly drawn up during the French colonial era.
