Thailand Launches Airstrikes Against Cambodia After Deadly Border Clashes
Thailand launched F-16 airstrikes on Cambodian military targets Thursday after deadly border clashes left at least 12 Thais dead and 24 others wounded.
Fighting erupted early Thursday near the Ta Moan Thom temple, about 225 miles from Bangkok, and spread across six points along the disputed border.
Each side blamed the other for starting the clash. Thai officials said Cambodia flew surveillance drones over Thai troops, while Cambodian authorities claimed Thai forces advanced on a protected temple zone, violating prior agreements.
The Thai government confirmed deploying six F-16 fighter jets to counter threats, with strikes at 10:58 a.m. reportedly destroying Cambodian military bases. The deployment followed Cambodia’s launch of BM-21 rockets targeting the Border Development Center in Kap Choeng District in Surin Province.
Additional BM-21 rocket strikes reportedly targeted Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province, as well as other civilian areas along the border, including gas stations and residential homes.
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A Thai ministry official said all border crossings have been closed and more than 40,000 civilians evacuated following the clashes. Authorities have activated an emergency readiness plan and urged all Thai nationals in Cambodia to leave the country immediately.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry accused Thai armed forces of launching “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks on Cambodian positions along the border areas, including Tamone Thom Temple, Ta Krabey Temple and Mom Bei, in the provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey.”
Following the clashes, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet sent a letter to the Pakistani president of the UN Security Council, requesting an urgent meeting.
“Cambodia condemns in the strongest terms and expresses its profound indignation over the unprovoked and premeditated military aggression by the Kingdom of Thailand’s armed forces,” the letter stated, accusing Thailand of violating international law and the UN Charter.
The violence between the two countries followed a landmine blast on Wednesday that wounded five Thai soldiers.
The two countries have disputed stretches of their 508-mile border for over a century, with previous flare-ups, including a deadly artillery exchange in 2011. No ceasefire talks have been announced.