Thailand and Cambodia Clash Over Disputed Border

Thai and Cambodian troops clashed at a disputed border area on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of firing the first shot near the Khmer temple Ta Muen Thom. The Thai military said Cambodian soldiers opened fire, while Cambodia's defence ministry claimed its troops were responding to Thai aggression, with at least two Thai soldiers injured. The incident comes amid heightened tensions and a deteriorating bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Thailand and Cambodia have escalated their long-standing border dispute, with Thailand launching airstrikes against Cambodian military targets using F-16 fighter jets. The clashes began early Thursday morning near the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple, which lies in disputed territory, and have since spread to six locations along the border, killing at least eight people in Thailand. Cambodia has vowed to "respond decisively" to Thailand's actions, denouncing them as "brutal, barbaric and violent military aggression." Thailand's military is significantly larger and better-equipped than Cambodia's, with modern fighter jets and battle tanks. The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has advised its citizens to leave Cambodia "as soon as possible" due to the escalating conflict.

Thai fighter jets dropped bombs on Cambodian military targets along their disputed border, killing at least eight civilians, as armed clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors escalated. The violence follows a Thai soldier losing a leg in a landmine explosion, prompting Thailand to close all border crossings with Cambodia and downgrade diplomatic relations. Thailand's military claimed to have "destroyed" two Cambodian regional military support units, while Cambodia's Defense Ministry condemned the strikes as "brutal, barbaric, and violent military aggression" and vowed to respond decisively. The clashes began after both sides accused each other of initiating an armed assault near the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple in disputed territory.

Violence has erupted on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, reigniting a long-standing dispute. The conflict escalated after a Thai soldier lost a leg in a landmine explosion, prompting Thailand to deploy fighter jets against Cambodian targets. The disputed border, largely mapped by the French during colonial rule, has seen periodic clashes and tensions. The latest flare-up began in May with a clash between troops, and both sides have since engaged in saber-rattling and reinforced troops. The conflict has had significant political ramifications, including the suspension of Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who faces potential dismissal over a leaked phone call criticizing her own army's actions.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged fire in a contested region along their shared boundary, with both sides claiming the other initiated the clash. The incident occurred near the ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple, and followed a rapid deterioration in diplomatic ties, with Cambodia downgrading its ties to Thailand to their lowest level and expelling the Thai ambassador. The tensions are part of a broader conflict over several disputed border areas, including the Preah Vihear temple, and have been escalating since May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a separate confrontation.

Cambodian and Thai troops clashed along their contested border, killing at least one person and wounding several civilians, escalating a longstanding dispute that has its roots in a 1907 map created during French colonial rule. The two Southeast Asian neighbors have a history of military clashes and nationalist rivalries, with the border dispute centering on areas with historical temples. Tensions have flared intermittently since 2008, with a deadly clash in 2011 killing at least 15 people. Recent months saw a worsening of the dispute, including a skirmish on May 28 that killed a Cambodian soldier, and a controversial phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian leader Hun Sen on June 15, which led to Paetongtarn's suspension by Thailand's Constitutional Court on July 1. The situation continued to deteriorate, with Thailand downgrading diplomatic relations with Cambodia on July 23 after a Thai soldier lost his leg in a land mine explosion.

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire along their disputed border, killing at least one Thai civilian and injuring several others. The clash escalated a months-long standoff between the two countries, which have a history of military conflicts and nationalist rivalries. The dispute centers on a border area with ancient temples, including Prasat Ta Muen Thom, whose ownership is contested. The Thai army said Cambodia fired Russian-made rockets into civilian areas, prompting Thailand to respond with F-16 fighter jets. The conflict has led to a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations, with Thailand downgrading its ties with Cambodia and recalling its ambassador. The tensions have also sparked a political crisis in Thailand, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended from office amid allegations of disparaging the Thai military in a phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Thai and Cambodian forces clashed along their disputed border, resulting in at least one Thai civilian death and injured soldiers. Thailand launched air strikes using six F-16 jets against Cambodian military positions, while Cambodia accused Thailand of reckless aggression and violating a de-escalation agreement. The fighting began at the Ta Moan Thom temple and escalated into at least six locations, with both sides trading blame for the violence.

Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged fire along their disputed border, with at least two Thai civilians killed and several others injured. The Thai military claims Cambodian troops opened fire near the Khmer Hindu temple Ta Muen Thom, prompting Thai airstrikes on Cambodian military targets. Cambodia denies the allegations, stating that Thai troops launched the first attack and that its forces acted in self-defence. The clashes are the latest in a history of conflict along the 817km border, which is subject to overlapping territorial claims. Both countries have accused each other of provocation, and tensions have escalated in recent months, with diplomatic tit-for-tat measures including the recall of ambassadors and the closure of border checkpoints.

Thailand and Cambodia have clashed along their disputed border, with both countries accusing each other of opening fire first. The Thai army has launched airstrikes on Cambodian targets, including a military target destroyed by an F-16 fighter jet. At least two Thai civilians were killed and two others injured by Cambodian shelling. The conflict has escalated after weeks of simmering tensions, with both sides trading fire near the Khmer Hindu temple, Ta Muen Thom. Cambodia has denied Thai claims that its troops opened fire first, and has accused Thailand of "unprovoked military aggression." The Thai military has closed all border checkpoints, and fighting is taking place at six different locations. China has urged its citizens in Cambodia to avoid areas near the frontier with Thailand. Cambodia has downgraded diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling its staff from its embassy in Bangkok.