Thailand has carried out air strikes on Cambodia, hitting two military targets on Thursday, as the countries’ border conflict intensified, with clashes reported in six locations.
Six F-16 fighter jets were deployed late Thursday morning from Ubon Ratchathani province, hitting two “Cambodian military targets on the ground”, Col Ritcha Suksuwanon, a Royal Thai Army deputy spokesperson, told reporters.
“We have used air power against military targets as planned.”
The air strikes came a few hours after Cambodian soldiers opened fire at a Thai military base in the northeastern province of Surin and launched rockets towards Si Sa Ket, according to the army.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry said preparations were under way to evacuate civilians as a precautionary measure in border areas of four provinces.
The hostilities erupted when Thai soldiers heard a Cambodian unmanned aerial vehicle circling in front of the Ta Muen Thom temple ruins in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin at 7.35am, the 2nd Army Region said.
Six Cambodian soldiers then approached a barbed-wire fence in front of the Thai military base, armed with weapons including rocket-propelled grenades.
Thai soldiers at the base shouted to urge their Cambodian counterparts to avoid escalating the conflict.
At 8.20am Cambodia opened fire toward the Moo Pa military base, about 200 metres east of the Ta Muen ruins, the 2nd Army Region said on its Facebook page.
The Cambodian forces set up artillery in nearby communities in a manner that used civilians as human shields, the Thai army alleged. Artillery fire was then directed at the temple ruins at 8.50am, it said.
At about 9.15am, Cambodian troops reportedly initiated gunfire, targeting the area near the Moo Pa base. One Thai soldier was injured as gunfire continued, with both small arms and heavy weaponry being deployed.
At 9.40am, Cambodia fired BM-21 rocket launchers at the Don Tuan temple ruins in Si Sa Ket province, Thailand said.
At 9.55am, Cambodian forces reportedly fired into a residential area near the border area development centre in Kap Choeng district of Surin. At least three civilians were reported injured. Authorities began evacuating civilians from the area as a precaution.
The attacks came a day after a landmine explosion injured five Thai soldiers, one of whom lost a leg, near the Chong An Ma border crossing in Ubon Ratchathani province.
The Thai army said the mines were recently planted by Cambodia.
Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the 2nd Region Army, which is responsible for the Northeast, ordered the border sealed and the temple ruins in Surin closed. The orders took effect on Thursday morning.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Facebook Thursday that Thai forces had launched attacks on Cambodian military positions at Preah Vihear and Ta Krabei temples in Oddar Meanchey province.
"Cambodia always maintains a stance of wanting to resolve issues peacefully, but, in this case, we have no choice but to respond with armed force against this armed invasion," Hun Manet said.
On Wednesday, the Thai government expelled the Cambodian ambassador, Hun Saroeun, while recalling the Thai envoy from Phnom Penh.
Bangkok has briefed foreign military attachés and diplomats stationed in the neighbouring country and is seeking action under the United Nations’ (UN) Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, while also engaging in bilateral efforts to resolve the dispute.
Though Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of border tensions, relations have remained largely stable since the 2011 conflict, which left dozens dead.
After the clash in May, Cambodia called for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to help resolve four disputed land areas. Thailand, however, said it does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction in the matter.
A police officer inspects a house in Kap Choeng district of Surin after rockets fired by Cambodian forces struck civilian targets, leaving three Thai residents injured on Thursday morning. (Photo: Royal Thai Army public relations)
