Thailand says 14 people killed in deadly border clashes with Cambodia

Thailand has said that 13 of its civilians and one soldier were killed in their most deadly border clash with Cambodia, as tensions between the two countries escalated on Thursday.

Thailand launched an airstrike against Cambodia following weeks of squabbling along the border, which culminated in an exchange of fire from both sides.

The two sides have blamed each other for increasing hostilities along the border, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of its “inhumane, brutal and war-hungry” and Phnom Penh slamming Bangkok over “unprovoked military aggression”.

Thai authorities say that at least 13 civilians and a soldier were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces, while 14 soldiers and 32 other civilians were injured. The Cambodian strike also hit a hospital in Thailand’s Surin province, the country’s health minister said.

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A spokesperson for the Thai military said that among the dead is an eight-year-old boy and civilians have been killed in three provinces. The official added that Cambodian strikes were reported in six provinces.

Meanwhile, Cambodia has not announced an official death toll, but has said that Thai jets dropped two bombs on a road, condemning the attacks as “reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia”.

The violence came hours after Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own envoy after five members of a Thai military patrol were wounded by a landmine.

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Cambodia downgraded ties to “the lowest level” on Thursday, pulling out all but one of its diplomats and expelling their Thai equivalents from Phnom Penh.

Meanwhile, China has issued an advisory for its citizens living in Cambodia amid the deadly clashes. “We are deeply concerned over the current developments and hope both sides can properly resolve issues through dialogue and consultations,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), urged Thailand and Cambodia to de-escalate tensions.

With inputs from agencies