Thailand has launched a series of airstrikes along its shared and disputed border with neighbouring Cambodia, with both Asian nations accusing each other of drawing first blood after a US-brokered treaty saw several months of peace.
Tensions are now rising between the two once more, with a truce agreement signed by both countries in October seemingly now dumped.
In July, tensions boiled over into agression between the two nations, resulting in five days of combat and chaos with proved deadly for the common people of both countries. Dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed.
Thai army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said the Cambodian troops fired first into Thai territory in multiple areas. He said one Thai soldier was killed and four other soldiers were wounded, and civilians were being evacuated from the affected areas.
Thai aircraft struck “military targets in several areas to suppress Cambodian supporting fire attacks,” he said, as a response to the incursion of Cambodian troops that fired into Thai territory first.
Maj Suvaree claimed the attacks had happened.
Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata pushed back on the claims to accuse Thailand of attacking first.
She added that Cambodia did not retaliate, and has called on Thailand to return peace to the region by halting all further offences.
“Cambodia urges that Thailand immediately stop all hostile activities that threaten peace and stability in the region,” she said.
The US-brokered ceasefire that ended the brief conflict between the two nations was under threat last month with Thai troops injured by land mines. Both sides continue to trade accusations over who was responsible.
Both nations are supposed to be working together to rid their shared border of leftover landmines from previous conflicts as tensions between the two nations run deep.
The two share a 500-mile land border. The border near the Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Moan temple and the Ta Krabey temples have been in dispute.
The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia uses the map to claim territory, while Thailand argues the map is inaccurate.