Thailand-Cambodia war: Airstrikes and artillery fire erupt across border

Thailand said at least 12 people, most of whom were civilians, were killed amid fresh clashes in multiple contested border areas with Cambodia. Cambodia has yet to confirm whether it suffered any casualties in the skirmishes that erupted on Thursday. Both sides exchanged gunfire in the early hours of July 24, each blaming the other side for triggering the skirmishes. 

Thailand, which has accused Cambodia of firing rockets, deployed an F-16 fighter jet and launched airstrikes on ground military targets in the other country's territory. Clashes are reportedly ongoing in at least six areas along the border, Surasant Kongsiri, a spokesperson for the Thai Defence Ministry, said. Thailand has closed the border with Cambodia, while Cambodia has downgraded ties with Bangkok. Both countries have urged their citizens to leave areas near the borders. 

The already difficult relations between the Southeast Asian countries, which date back more than a century, rapidly deteriorated after a Cambodian soldier was killed during an armed confrontation in a patch of land both countries claim as their own territory in May.

The latest escalation of tensions follows the Cambodian Government's downgrading of diplomatic relations with its neighbour to the lowest level, following similar measures by its Thai counterpart.

The first clash on Thursday took place near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, on the border of Surin and Cambodia's Meanchey Province. A livestream video showed Thai people running from their homes and hiding behind a concrete barrier as explosions sounded.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet said Thailand provoked the attack by targeting Cambodian army positions near Ta Muen Thom temple and Ta Krabey temple in the Oddar Meanchey province.

"Cambodia has always maintained a position of peaceful resolution of problems, but in this case, we have no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression," he said.

The Thai army said its forces heard an unmanned aerial vehicle approaching before spotting six armed Cambodian soldiers moving into the contested area on Thursday, who then opened fire.

Cambodia contested these claims, however, insisting that it had "acted strictly within the bounds of self-defence".

It comes after five Thai soldiers were injured in a land mine blast near the border on Wednesday, which Thai authorities said had been freshly laid on territory that was mutually agreed as safe. Cambodia denied the "baseless accusations" and pointed to unexploded mines and other ordnance in the region that are a handover of 20th century wars and unrest.

Border disputes have caused violent eruptions of tensions in the area near the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple for years, with Thailand's Prime Minister suspended from office on July 1 to be investigated for possible ethics violations in her handling of the longstanding issues.