More 12 people killed in ongoing clash between Thailand and Cambodia over boarder dispute. The both side death toll is standing on the total count of 32.
According to the Cambodian officials another 12 individuals killed between dispute of two nation on boarder dispute. The latest casualties have intensified concerns that the dispute could escalate into a prolonged conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Cambodian Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata confirmed on Saturday to the reporters, seven more civilians and five soldiers were dead, the updated toll after the confirmation of another one Cambodian man was killed in Thai rockets attack on Thursday Buddhist pagoda where he was hiding.
At least 50 Cambodian civilians and more than 20 soldiers have also been injured, the spokesperson said.
Thailand has reported 13 civilians – including children – as well as six soldiers killed over the past two days of fighting. An additional 29 Thai soldiers and 30 civilians have also been wounded in Cambodian attacks.
Cambodian newspaper The Khmer Times, quoting officials in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, said about 20,000 residents have so far been evacuated from the country’s northern border with Thailand.
More than 138,000 people have also been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, with about 300 evacuation centres opened, according to Thai officials. On Friday, Thailand declared martial law in eight districts along the border with Cambodia.
The decades-old conflict – centred around a contested section of the Thai-Cambodian border – re-erupted on Thursday after a landmine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers.
Tensions spilled over on Thursday with Thailand and Cambodia carrying out direct attacks on one another’s territory, with both sides accusing the other of opening fire first.
Thailand said the Cambodian military launched long-range rockets at civilian targets in the country, including a strike on a petrol station that killed at least six people.
The Thai military then scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia, including the reported strike on the Buddhist pagoda, which resulted in one civilian casualty.
Cambodia has accused Thailand of using a large number of cluster munitions – a controversial and widely condemned weapon – calling it a clear violation of international law.
Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand’s acting prime minister, said on Friday that Cambodia may be guilty of war crimes due to the deaths of civilians, as well as damage caused to a hospital.
