Clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops at their disputed border have killed at least 12 people, Thai authorities say.
The fighting marks an escalation of a dispute between the two South East Asian neighbours that dates back more than a century.
Most of the casualties were civilians from three Thai provinces, according to Thailand’s army, which also reported that several people were wounded. Cambodia has yet to confirm whether it suffered any casualties.
Both sides exchanged gunfire early on Thursday, with each claiming the other had triggered the conflict. It escalated quickly, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of firing rockets and Bangkok carrying out air strikes on Cambodian military targets.
Thailand has closed its border with Cambodia, while Cambodia has downgraded its ties with Thailand, accusing its military of using “excessive force”.
Both countries have asked their citizens near the border to leave the areas, with Thailand evacuating 40,000 civilians to safer locations.
Thai authorities said that a total of 11 civilians – including an eight-year-old and a 15-year-old – as well as one military personnel have been killed in the Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Srisaket provinces.
Thailand and Cambodia have given differing versions of what happened.
Thailand claims that it began with Cambodia’s military deploying drones to conduct surveillance of Thai troops near the border.
Cambodia says Thai soldiers initiated the conflict when they violated a prior agreement by advancing on a Khmer-Hindu temple near the border.
Credit: bbc.com
