Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, and conflicting accounts of what happened

 

Thailand

Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, and conflicting accounts of what happened

Thai authorities reported that at least 12 people were killed in clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces on the disputed border between the two countries.

This fighting represents an escalation of a conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbors that dates back more than a century.

The Thai military said most of the casualties were civilians from three Thai provinces, noting that there were also a number of injuries. Cambodia has not yet confirmed whether it suffered any casualties.

The two sides exchanged fire early Thursday morning, with each side claiming that the other had sparked the conflict. The situation escalated quickly, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of firing the missiles, while Bangkok carried out airstrikes on Cambodian military targets.

Thailand closed its border with Cambodia, while Cambodia downgraded its relations with Thailand, accusing its military of using "excessive force."

Both countries have asked their citizens near the border to leave those areas, with Thailand evacuating 40,000 civilians to safer locations.

Suthian Phyuchan, a resident of the Ban Dan district in Thailand's Buriram province, near the Cambodian border, told the BBC: "The fighting is very dangerous. We are evacuating."