Fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border has continued, even after US President Donald Trump said he helped broker a ceasefire between the two countries.
Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Ongoing Attacks
Cambodia said on Saturday that Thai forces were still attacking disputed border areas. The Cambodian Ministry of Information claimed Thai troops were dropping bombs and using fighter jets. It said the attacks had not stopped.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defence said that on December 13, Thai forces used two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs on several targets. The ministry said bombing and ground attacks continued on villages and settlements until at least 8am local time.
Thailand rejected Cambodia’s accusations. The Thai military accused Cambodian forces of breaking international rules. It said Cambodian troops had attacked civilian areas and planted landmines near the border.
Thai Prime Minister Rules Out Ceasefire
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said there was no ceasefire in place. He said Thailand would continue military action to protect its land and people.
“Thailand will continue to perform military actions until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people,” Anutin said in a Facebook post on Saturday. “Our actions this morning already spoke.”
Trump Says Both Sides Agreed to Stop Firing
Trump said on Friday night that he spoke separately with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia. He said both sides had agreed to stop firing and that the talks were positive and aimed at reducing tensions.
However, neither country officially confirmed any ceasefire. Thailand’s foreign ministry said no such agreement existed and referred questions to the prime minister’s statement.
Cambodia Calls for Peaceful Solution
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said his country still wants a peaceful resolution. In a Facebook post on Saturday, he said Cambodia remains committed to an earlier agreement reached in Kuala Lumpur in October, with support from Malaysia.
Recent clashes along the border have killed people and forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes. The ongoing violence has raised concerns about stability in the region, despite international efforts to calm the situation