Explosive Thailand and Cambodia border clashes erupt with ‘at least 11 civilians killed’ and F-16 airstrikes launched
DEADLY border clashes have erupted between Thailand and Cambodia with both sides launching terrifying strikes.
Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets to bomb military bases after Cambodia reportedly fired rockets along the border with at least 12 dead – including two children.
The civilian death toll in Thailand sits at 11 with two killed in Surin, including an eight-year-old boy, according to health minister Somsak Thepsuthin.
Eight more deaths came in Srisaket, including a 15-year-old boy and one person was killed in Ubon Ratchathani.
A soldier has also died in the intense clashes, Thepsuthin confirmed.
Another 14 people have been left wounded in the relentless attacks, including a five-year-old child.
Surasant Kongsiri, a spokesperson for the Thai Defense Ministry, said Cambodia fired two BM-21 rockets into a residential area in Thailand’s Surin province.
Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Thailand was also targeted, according to the Thai army.
Thailand hit back by sending out their fighter jets to drop bombs on Cambodian military targets along the disputed 500-mile border.
The Thai 2nd regional military command in the northeast claimed to have “destroyed” two enemy support units.
Cambodia’s foreign ministry released a blistering attack on Thailand as they condemned the airstrikes in a statement.
It said: “Cambodia condemns in the strongest possible terms this reckless and hostile act by Thailand”.
They went on to say Thai soldiers “launched unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks on Cambodian positions along the border areas”.
The Cambodian government urged Thailand to cease hostilities to stop a further provocation.
Thailand’s military had initially accused Cambodian troops of firing at a Thai army base in an area near the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple at around 7:30am local time.
The religious building sits in the disputed territory in the south of Thailand’s Surin province and in Cambodia’s northwest.
Cambodia deployed an unmanned drone in front of the temple before sending in their troops with weapons, according to Thai officials.
Bangkok’s version of events have been widely disputed.
Cambodian officials claim Thai soldiers actually caused the first issues by arriving at the temple at around 06:30am and placing barbed wire around its nearby military base.
Thai soldiers then deployed a drone and fired shots “into the air”, according to a spokesperson from Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence.
Fighting soon erupted on both sides as Thailand sealed the land border amid the escalating tensions.
Their government quickly urged all citizens in the embattled regions to immediately leave.
Up to 40,000 from across 86 villages evacuated with many pictured taking refuge in tunnels with only a bag of belongings by their side.
British citizens have also been urged to “take extra care” when travelling between Thailand and Cambodia.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office warned the clashes are highly volatile.
Inside century-long Thai-Cambodian border tensions
THE raging dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back to more than a century when their borders were first drawn up.
Today, the main issue revolves around who has ownership of the Preah Vihear temple.
In 2008, Cambodia tried to register the 11th Century temple located a disputed area as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
But Thailand, who claim it as their own, responded violently as protests spread across the region which left around 20 dead and thousands displaced.
The International Court of Justice later announced the disputed area belongs to Cambodia.
Despite the ruling, fights along the border have continued to kick off.
Over the years, sporadic clashes have seen soldiers and civilians ruthlessly killed on both sides.
The latest tensions ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash.
This plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in over a decade.
In the past two months, Cambodia banned imports from Thailand such as fruits and vegetables.
They also stopped importing power and internet services across the border.
China sent out a similar warning to their citizens.
Foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun said the country is “deeply concerned” by the developments but vowed to help with de-escalation.
Fears are now growing that the clashes which first erupted across six different border locations could break out into an all out war in the region.
Tensions have rapidly boiled over across the past seven days after a landmine exploded and injured three Thai soldiers in a contested zone.
Thailand accused Cambodia of deploying the mines but Cambodia denied the accusations and called them “baseless”.
On Wednesday, another five Thai soldiers were wounded by a similar blast which left one fighter having to have his leg amputated.
In response, Thailand closed its northeastern land crossings with Cambodia and expelled the Cambodian ambassador in Bangkok.
Cambodia did the same to the Thai ambassador in Phnom Penh as they downgraded their diplomatic relations with Thailand to the lowest level.
Hours later, the first of the deadly clashes broke out along the border.