BANGKOK. – Thailand launched new airstrikes against Cambodia on Monday There are renewed clashes in several areas of the disputed border after both countries accused each other of violating a ceasefire negotiated by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Old border disputes escalated in July during five days of fighting that ended 43 dead and 300,000 displaced. The North American president called on Southeast Asian neighbors to sign a ceasefire agreement in October. but the tensions remained latent.
Well, the Minister of Information of Cambodia, Neth Pheaktrareported Four civilians were killed and ten injured by Thai attacks in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces, saying tens of thousands of residents had been displaced from several villages near the border.
Thailand He said 380,000 people would be moved to emergency shelters. At the same time there is at least one Thai soldier dead and eight injuredsaid a spokesman for the Bangkok Armed Forces.
The conflict broke out before dawn on Monday. with clashes at five border pointsaccording to the Thai military. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said its forces were attacked but did not respond and then respected the ceasefire “Numerous provocative actions” through the neighboring country.
The Thai military also said its troops were attacked and blamed Cambodia from Fire at civilian areas with BM-21 missiles mounted on trucks. He added that Cambodian forces had used mortars, artillery and drones to drop explosives on Thai bases.
The Thai Air Force said its fighter jets launched airstrikes on military facilities early in the morning, based on operational assessments showing this Cambodia had mobilized heavy weapons and repositioned combat units.
The air strikes were intended to serve this purpose Deterrence to prevent escalation and reduce Cambodia’s military capabilities, the Thai Air Force said.
The Thai Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakulsaid this in a televised speech Military operations would be carried out as needed to defend the country and protect public safety.
“Thailand has never wanted violence. I would like to reiterate that Thailand has never started a fight or an invasion.” but will never tolerate any violation of its sovereignty“said the President.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun ManetHe wrote on Facebook that his government’s immediate tasks were: Protect the people and the sovereignty of the country.
“I ask all ministries, institutions, authorities at all levels, all types of armed forces and all Cambodian citizens May they unite for the cause of the nation and the country in this difficult time,” Manet published.
The Prime Minister of regional neighbor Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahimwho was also involved in negotiating the first ceasefire, In a statement posted on social media, he asked for moderation and said his country stood ready to support efforts to prevent further fighting.
“Our region cannot afford to allow long-standing disputes to develop into cycles of confrontation.”Ibrahim wrote.
But when asked about a possible intervention by Trump and about this call from Anwar, the Thai head of state replied that no one should tell his country that “Act with moderation or quit”.
“We have long since passed this point.”emphasized the Prime Minister. “If you want things to stop, tell the attacker to stop,” he added.
The renewed fighting is the heaviest since a five-day exchange of rockets and heavy artillery in July. that marked his worst duel in recent history.
It is not immediately clear what sparked the recent unrest, but tensions have since eased On November 10, a Thai soldier was injured by a landmineThis led to Thailand suspending de-escalation measures agreed to in an enhanced ceasefire agreement agreed a few weeks earlier in Malaysia in the presence of Trump.
Thailand said the landmine was among several that Cambodia had recently planted that it will not resume de-escalation measures until Cambodia apologizes. Cambodia has repeatedly denied these allegations.
Trump said this in mid-November had intervened to preserve the ceasefire given the ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Thailand has a large and well-equipped army which is far higher than that of Cambodiawith three times as many active personnel in its armed forces and a 2024 defense budget four times that of its neighbor.
The Cambodian army has 75,000 soldiersmore than 200 battle tanks and around 480 artillery pieces compared to 245,000 soldiers the Thai army, its around 400 tanks, more than 1,200 infantry fighting vehicles and 2,600 artillery pieces.
The Thai Air Force has approx 40 fighter jets and dozens of helicopterswhile Cambodia has 16 multi-role helicopters but no combat aircraft.
Thailand and Cambodia have a history of hostility that goes back centurieswhen they were empires at war.
Both countries have disputed the sovereignty of several non-demarcated points along the way 817 kilometers land border for more than a century, which was first created by France in 1907when Cambodia was his colony.
This map, which Thailand later challenged, was based on an agreement that the border would be demarcated along the natural line of the watershed between the two countries. In 2000, agreed to establish a commission to peacefully address overlapping claimsbut very little progress has been made.
The ceasefire does not represent a way to resolve the underlying basis of the dispute. There are deep-rooted disagreements about where the border should be.
Disputes over ownership of historic sites fueled nationalist tensions, particularly in 2003. as protesters set fire to the Thai embassy and Thai businesses In Phnom Penh over an alleged statement by a Thai celebrity questioning jurisdiction over the Cambodian temple Angkor Watdeclared a world cultural heritage site.
The 11th century Hindu temple Preah Vihear -either Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand – was at the center of the dispute, with both countries claiming their historic ownership.
The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962. but Thailand continued to claim the surrounding lands. Tensions escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to designate Preah Vihear a UNESCO World Heritage site, leading to clashes and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long artillery battle in 2011.
The origins of the current outbreak stem in part from the uneasy peace reached in late July when Trump brought the warring parties to the negotiating table and warned them about the importance of the U.S. market to both countries’ exports. with the threat of withholding important business privileges.
Trump later claimed that this intervention was one example among several from around the world. where his actions led to peace between enemy nations.
The preliminary pact was followed by a more detailed agreement in October. It called for coordinating demining operations, removing heavy weapons and equipment from the border, implementing measures to restore mutual trust and refraining from harmful rhetoric and the spread of false information. None of these measures have been fully implemented.
In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed by Thai forces in a brief clash. which led to both countries increasing troop presence on the border. Around the same time, Cambodia took its temple disputes to court in four areas. International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Limit voltages caused the overthrow of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatrawho was deposed by a court in August after her attempt to de-escalate the situation failed when a sensitive phone conversation with Cambodia’s influential former prime minister was leaked Hun Senwhich sparked public outrage.
AP and Reuters agencies
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