Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Bombing Border Areas During Peace Talks
Border clashes escalate despite ongoing negotiations.
Cambodia has levelled serious accusations against Thailand, claiming that Thai forces dramatically escalated military operations by launching intense bombardments in contested border zones, precisely while bilateral negotiations intended to halt the deadly confrontation were underway for their third consecutive day on Friday. This renewed phase of the longstanding conflict has already claimed over 40 lives according to official tallies and forced approximately one million residents to flee their homes, exacerbating humanitarian concerns along the shared frontier.
The Cambodian defence ministry detailed that Thai F-16 fighter jets were deployed early Friday morning, dropping as many as 40 bombs between 6:08 am and 7:15 am on positions near Chok Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. In response, Thai media outlets reported heavy overnight artillery attacks from Cambodian forces targeting Sa Kaeo province, resulting in damage to several civilian residences and further fuelling mutual recriminations.
Diplomatic efforts persisted amid the violence, with representatives from both nations continuing discussions at a designated border checkpoint, and a high-level meeting between their respective defence ministers scheduled for Saturday. Each side maintains that its actions are purely defensive, while accusing the other of provocation, initiating renewed hostilities, and deliberately endangering civilian populations, as fighting has now proliferated across virtually the entire length of their common boundary.
Also Read: Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Bombing Bridge as Border Conflict Escalates
Rooted in unresolved disputes over colonial-era border demarcation covering roughly 800 kilometres and encompassing ancient temple complexes, the conflict saw a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States, China, and Malaysia in July following five days of intense clashes, yet that agreement rapidly collapsed without preventing the current surge in violence.
On the diplomatic front, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet disclosed on Friday that he held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which they explored potential pathways toward establishing a durable ceasefire along the volatile Cambodia-Thailand border, underscoring international involvement in efforts to de-escalate the crisis.
Also Read: First Thai Civilian Killed in Cambodia Rocket Attack Amid Border Fighting
