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Thailand launches air strikes against Cambodia as renewed clashes along their disputed border result in the death of a Thai soldier and injuries on both sides, forcing thousands of civilians to evacuate their homes.
The conflict, rooted in a century-old boundary dispute, escalated on Monday, December 8, following sporadic skirmishes that resumed after a temporary ceasefire.
The truce, which ended five days of intense fighting over the summer (which killed 43 people and displaced 300,000), was suspended by Thailand last month after a landmine incident wounded several of its soldiers.
Escalation and Accusations
The Thai army reported that one of its soldiers was killed and eight were wounded.
The army spokesman confirmed that Thailand launched air strikes, claiming they were an act of self-defence aimed only at Cambodian “military objectives” to stop ground fire that was causing Thai casualties.
Conversely, Cambodia’s defence ministry spokeswoman accused Thai forces of attacking Cambodian troops with tanks and an F-16 jet, specifically mentioning fire directed at the Tamone Thom temple area.
Cambodia denied retaliating and claimed the Thai attacks wounded civilians and burnt homes, including injuring a Cambodian journalist.
Since the fighting reignited, approximately 35,000 people have been evacuated on the Thai side, and over 1,157 families have fled to Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.
Regional diplomatic efforts, including an appeal from the Malaysian Prime Minister, urged both nations to halt the fighting and return to diplomacy to prevent a “cycle of confrontation.”
