BANGKOK: Cambodia has accused Thailand of carrying out fresh airstrikes along their disputed border, as fighting between the two Southeast Asian neighbours entered its second week and showed little sign of easing.
Cambodia’s defence ministry said Thai F-16 fighter jets bombed areas in Preah Vihear province on Thursday morning, including Phnom Kmoch and Peak Sbeak, according to local outlet Fresh News. The ministry said Cambodian forces would continue to defend the country’s “territorial integrity and national dignity”.
Thailand has not confirmed the airstrikes. However, the Royal Thai Army said it had destroyed more than six buildings used by transnational scam networks — including casinos and hotels — since the violence resumed on December 7, according to Thai media.
The latest accusations came a day after Cambodian media reported relative calm along parts of the border, underscoring the fragile and unpredictable nature of the conflict.
China has stepped in diplomatically, with a special envoy for Asian affairs set to visit both Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday in a bid to rebuild trust and push for an early return to peace, according to Beijing.
At least 55 people have been killed since the fighting reignited 12 days ago. Thai authorities say 21 soldiers and 16 civilians have been killed on their side, while Cambodia’s Interior Ministry reported 18 civilian deaths and 78 injuries, reporst Tirkish news agency Anadolu.
The clashes have continued despite US President Donald Trump saying last week that leaders of both countries had agreed to halt the fighting. A peace agreement signed in October in Kuala Lumpur — witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — was later suspended after Thai soldiers were seriously wounded in a landmine explosion near the border.
Thai officials also say around 18 Cambodian soldiers remain in Thai custody following border incidents over the past five months.
Thailand and Cambodia have a long-running territorial dispute that has repeatedly erupted into violence. Earlier clashes in July left at least 48 people dead, highlighting the persistent volatility of the border region.
