Cambodia said Thailand has launched more airstrikes, as heavy fighting flared and both sides accused the other of violating their sovereignty along the contested border region.
The latest large-scale fighting was set off by a skirmish on Sunday that wounded two Thai soldiers and derailed a ceasefire pushed by Donald Trump that ended five days of combat in July over longstanding territorial disputes.
Nine Thai soldiers have been killed since Monday, Thailand’s military announced on Thursday.
Four civilians have also died, but not as a direct result of the clashes, officials said. They had underlying health issues and most died while they were being evacuated.
The military also said that more than 120 troops have been wounded.
Cambodia said on Thursday that 11 civilians on its side have died and 74 others have been wounded.
A Thai police officer splashes water to control fire at a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery strike in Surin province. Pic:AP
Flame rises from a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery strike in Surin province, Thailand, on 11 December. Pic: AP
A Thai military fighting jet dropped three bombs in the border area, the Cambodian defence ministry said on Thursday.
Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata accused Thailand of violating international laws by the use of “all kinds of heavy weapons and the deployment of large number of troops to encroach the Cambodian territory”.
Earlier, the Thai Army said Cambodia launched an attack on Wednesday night with artillery and mortars targeting Thai positions.
The Thai Army said it retaliated using the same kinds of heavy weapons, causing damage including “the destruction of enemy trucks”.
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But a Thai air force spokesperson Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai did not confirm nor deny that airstrikes were launched on Thursday.
The air force would “continue its air operations until the opposing side ceases all efforts that threaten Thailand’s sovereignty, security, and the safety of the Thai people,” he said in a televised speech.
It came as both sides waited for a telephone call from Mr Trump, who says he believes he can again end the fighting between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Mr Trump says he expects to speak with the countries’ leaders on Thursday.
In July, Mr Trump stopped the fighting with calls to both leaders in which he threatened to halt trade talks unless they ended the conflict.
“I think I can get them to stop fighting. Who else can do that?” Mr Trump said on Wednesday in an exchange with reporters.
He also repeated his claim of settling eight wars around the world since his return to the White House.
The coffin of Ket Sopheaktra, 40, a Cambodian soldier who was killed in military clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. Pic: Reuters
However, Thailand has reacted more warily to overtures from Mr Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who helped broker the July deal, which resulted in an extended ceasefire signed in October.
Thailand insists the matter is for the two nations to resolve.
The roots of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict lie in a history of enmity over competing territorial claims.
A Thai police officer splashes water to control fire at a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery strike in Surin province, Thailand, on 11 December. Pic: AP
Flame rises from a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery strike in Surin province, Thailand, on 11 December. Pic: AP
These claims largely stem from a 1907 map created while Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand argues is inaccurate.
Tensions were heightened by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded sovereignty to Cambodia, which still angers many Thais.
Despite October’s deal to stop fighting, the two countries carried on a bitter propaganda war, and minor cross-border violence continued.
Malaysian PM Mr Ibrahim said he had talked to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia on Tuesday and, though no definitive resolution was reached, he appreciated “the openness and willingness of both leaders to continue negotiations in order to ease tensions”.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday he would “explain and clarify” the situation if the US president called.
Thailand and Cambodia have blamed each other for the latest clashes that started this week and have traded accusations that civilians were being targeted in rocket and artillery attacks.
Around two dozen people have been reported killed in the fighting this week, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides of the border.
A house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery strike in Surin province, Thailand, on 11 December. Pic: AP
Cambodia’s interior ministry said in a Wednesday evening update that homes, schools, roads, pagodas and ancient temples had been damaged by “Thailand’s intensified shelling and F-16 air strikes targeting villages and civilian population centres up to 30km inside Cambodian territory”.
On Thursday, Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of committing “brutal acts of aggression” against civilian targets, including schools and temples. Thailand denies that it targets civilian infrastructure.