BANGKOK: Thailand launched air strikes on Cambodian military targets on Thursday (Jul 24) as Cambodia fired rockets and artillery in a dramatic escalation of a long-running border row between the two neighbours.
Both militaries accused each other of firing the first shots after weeks of simmering tensions.In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Cambodian PM Hun Manet requested an urgent meeting of the council and accused Thai troops of launching “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” along the border areas of the two countries.
However, Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said that the country acted in “self-defence to defend its sovereignty” and that operations would continue until the situation at the border had “normalised”.Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently chairs ASEAN, called the clashes "concerning" and said he had scheduled calls with both leaders on Thursday evening, with peace being the "only option available".
"They are very close to Malaysia and I've given messages to both PMs. I'm looking forward to speaking to both of them this evening.Here's a recap of how tensions boiled over.At a glanceThailand says it is prepared to intensify self-defence measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attacksThailand has also accused Cambodia’s military of attacks on civilian areas, confirming at least 12 deaths as of Thursday evening
Cambodia slammed what it said was Thai military aggression, with PM Hun Manet requesting that the UN Security Council convene an urgent meeting The public falling-out between former leaders Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra bodes poorly for the escalating border spat, Control Risks’ Harrison Cheng says in a Snap Insight for CNA CNA correspondent Jack Board takes a closer look at the long-standing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the key figures involved and how things may play out in his explainer
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