Thai army closes all Cambodian border checkpoints as dying toll from combating rises – because it occurred

Right here is an summary of at this time’s occasions:

• Thailand’s well being minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, mentioned 12 folks, together with 11 civilians and one soldier, had been killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces. He added that 24 civilians and 7 army personnel had been wounded. One little one was included among the many civilians killed. Cambodia’s assaults focused civilian areas in Thailand, together with a hospital, inflicting fatalities, Thailand’s international ministry mentioned on Thursday, urging its neighbour to stop actions it mentioned had been extreme violations of worldwide regulation.

• Thailand mentioned an F-16 fighter jet had fired into Cambodia and destroyed a army goal. The military mentioned a number of extra jets had been able to be deployed. “We have used air power against military targets as planned,” Thai military deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon instructed reporters. Cambodia’s influential former premier Hun Sen – father of present prime minister Hun Manet – mentioned that two Cambodian provinces had come beneath shelling from Thailand’s army. There was no instant phrase of casualties in Cambodia.

• Combating should first cease between Thailand and Cambodia earlier than there might be negotiations, Thailand’s performing premier mentioned on Thursday. Phumtham Wechayachai instructed a press convention there had been no declaration of warfare and battle was not spreading into extra provinces.

• Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested the UN safety council convene an “urgent meeting” over Thursday’s clashes. The letter accuses Thailand of “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian positions alongside border areas.

• The clashes broke out alongside a disputed part of their border with each international locations accusing the opposite of provocation, after weeks of simmering tensions between the south-east-Asian neighbours. The battle began close to the Khmer Hindu temple, Ta Muen Thom, on Thursday morning.

• Each Thailand and Cambodia accused one another of opening hearth first. The Thai army mentioned Cambodian troops had opened hearth close to the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone earlier than sending in troops with heavy weapons, together with rocket launchers. Cambodia has denied the claims, with its ministry of nationwide defence saying it was the Thai army that launched the primary armed assault.

• Thailand’s army mentioned it had closed all border checkpoints and that combating was going down at six totally different places.

• Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia mentioned it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest degree, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian workers from its embassy in Bangkok. That was in response to Thailand closing its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia, withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador on Wednesday to protest a landmine blast that wounded 5 Thai troopers.

• Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested on Thursday for these residing within the nation to keep away from discrimination in opposition to Thai corporations or residents. He requested any Cambodian residents in Thailand who had been going through discrimination to contact the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok or the Cambodian Consulate-Basic in Sa Kaeo province.

Thai information outlet The Nation reviews enterprise leaders within the nation expressing “deep concern” concerning the ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce reportedly mentioned in an announcement:

The Thai Chamber of Commerce extends its deepest sympathies and encouragement to the courageous personnel of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and all safety companies … who’re tirelessly fulfilling their responsibility to guard the nation’s sovereignty. We pray for the protection of all residents affected by this perilous scenario.

Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet introduced this month that Cambodia would begin conscripting civilians subsequent 12 months, activating a long-dormant necessary draft regulation, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reviews.

He cited rising tensions with Thailand for the choice.

Cambodia’s conscription regulation dates again to 2006 however has by no means been enforced.

Hun Manet has proposed conscripts serve for 2 years to bolster the nation’s 200,000 personnel, requiring residents age 18 to 30 to enlist within the army.

Listed here are a few of the newest photographs of the Thailand-Cambodia battle coming to us by means of the wires:

Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested on Thursday for these residing within the nation to keep away from discrimination in opposition to Thai corporations or residents.

He requested any Cambodian residents in Thailand who had been going through discrimination to contact the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok or the Cambodian Consulate-Basic in Sa Kaeo province.

He mentioned in a publish on Fb:

Although there may be at present combating between the Cambodian and Thai armies on the border, I enchantment to all Cambodian residents to keep up their morality and dignity, and to keep away from discrimination or any actions that might have an effect on the Royal Thai Embassy in Cambodia, Thai corporations, and Thai residents residing in Cambodia.

For Cambodian residents who’re residing, working, or learning in Thailand and could also be going through strain from discrimination and want to return to Cambodia, please come again to our nation.

In case you want help, please contact the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok or the Consulate-Basic of Cambodia in Sa Kaeo Province in Thailand.

Footage from a rocket strike close to a petroleum station in Sisaket province confirmed smoke pouring from a comfort retailer connected to the petrol station, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reviews.

Provincial officers mentioned a lot of the useless had been college students contained in the store when the assault occurred.

Praphas Intaracheun, a 53-year-old gardener from Sisaket province, instructed AFP:

I heard a loud noise three or 4 instances, and after I appeared over, there was a big cloud of smoke.

He was refuelling at one other petrol station about 300 metres (984 toes) from the one which was hit.

He mentioned:

I used to be completely shocked. That is the primary time I’ve ever skilled something like this.

I’m scared it would escalate in the course of the night time when you may’t see something. I don’t even dare sleep.

The Thai public well being ministry mentioned 35 civilians have been wounded.

On Wednesday, Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled the Cambodian ambassador to protest in opposition to the landmine blast that wounded its troopers, the Related Press (AP) reviews.

Thai authorities alleged the mines had been newly laid alongside paths that either side had agreed had been imagined to be secure. They mentioned the mines had been Russian-made and never of a sort employed by Thailand’s army.

Cambodia rejected Thailand’s account as “baseless accusations,” saying that that many unexploded mines and different ordnance are a legacy of Twentieth-century wars and unrest.

Reuters and the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research has this comparability of Thailand and Cambodia’s army forces.

BUDGETS AND GROUND PERSONNEL

Cambodia had a defence funds of $1.3bn in 2024 and 124,300 lively army personnel. The armed forces had been established in 1993 from the merger of the nation’s former Communist army and two different resistance armies.
Of this, the Cambodian military is the biggest power, with 75,000 troopers, greater than 200 battle tanks and about 480 items of artillery.

Thailand, which the U.S. classifies as a significant non-Nato ally, has a big, well-funded army, with a defence funds of $5.73bn in 2024 and greater than 360,000 lively armed forces personnel.
The military has 245,000 personnel, together with an estimated 115,000 conscripts, 400 battle tanks, greater than 1,200 armoured personnel carriers and a pair of,600 artillery weapons. It additionally has its personal fleet of plane: passenger planes, helicopters reminiscent of dozens of US-made Black Hawks, and unmanned aerial automobiles.

AIR FORCES

Cambodia’s air power has 1,500 personnel, with a comparatively small fleet of plane, together with 10 transport planes and 10 transport helicopters. It has no fighter plane however has 16 multi- position helicopters, together with six Soviet-era Mi-17s and 10 Chinese language Z-9s.

Thailand has top-of-the-line outfitted and skilled air forces in Southeast Asia, with an estimated 46,000 personnel, 112 fight succesful plane, together with 28 F-16s and 11 Swedish Gripen fighter jets, and dozens of helicopters.

NAVIES

The Cambodian navy has an estimated 2,800 personnel, together with 1,500 naval infantry, with 13 patrol and coastal fight vessels and one amphibious touchdown craft.

Thailand’s navy is way bigger, with almost 70,000 personnel, comprising naval aviation, marines, coastal defence and conscripts. It has one plane service, seven frigates, 68 patrol and coastal fight vessels, and a few amphibious and touchdown ships able to holding tons of of troops every and 14 smaller touchdown craft.

Thailand’s naval aviation division has its personal fleet of plane, together with helicopters and UAVs, apart from a marine corps that has 23,000 personnel, backed by dozens of armed combating automobiles.

• Thailand’s well being minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, mentioned 12 folks, together with 11 civilians and one soldier, had been killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces. He added that 24 civilians and 7 army personnel had been wounded. One little one was included among the many civilians killed. Cambodia’s assaults focused civilian areas in Thailand, together with a hospital, inflicting fatalities, Thailand’s international ministry mentioned on Thursday, urging its neighbour to stop actions it mentioned had been extreme violations of worldwide regulation.

• Thailand mentioned an F-16 fighter jet had fired into Cambodia and destroyed a army goal. The military mentioned a number of extra jets had been able to be deployed. “We have used air power against military targets as planned,” Thai military deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon instructed reporters. Cambodia’s influential former premier Hun Sen – father of present prime minister Hun Manet – mentioned that two Cambodian provinces had come beneath shelling from Thailand’s army. There was no instant phrase of casualties in Cambodia.

• Combating should first cease between Thailand and Cambodia earlier than there might be negotiations, Thailand’s performing premier mentioned on Thursday. Phumtham Wechayachai instructed a press convention there had been no declaration of warfare and battle was not spreading into extra provinces.

• Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested the UN safety council convene an “urgent meeting” over Thursday’s clashes. The letter accuses Thailand of “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian positions alongside border areas.

• The clashes broke out alongside a disputed part of their border with each international locations accusing the opposite of provocation, after weeks of simmering tensions between the south-east-Asian neighbours. The battle began close to the Khmer Hindu temple, Ta Muen Thom, on Thursday morning.

• Each Thailand and Cambodia accused one another of opening hearth first. The Thai army mentioned Cambodian troops had opened hearth close to the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone earlier than sending in troops with heavy weapons, together with rocket launchers. Cambodia has denied the claims, with its ministry of nationwide defence saying it was the Thai army that launched the primary armed assault.

• Thailand’s army mentioned it had closed all border checkpoints and that combating was going down at six totally different places.

• Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia mentioned it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest degree, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian workers from its embassy in Bangkok. That was in response to Thailand closing its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia, withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador on Wednesday to protest a landmine blast that wounded 5 Thai troopers.

Thailand’s prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from workplace on 1 July to be investigated for potential ethics violations over her dealing with of the border dispute after a leaked telephone name with a senior Cambodian chief the Related Press (AP) reviews.

Within the June name, Paetongtarn referred to Cambodian former prime minister Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticised Thai army management, remarks framed by critics as disrespectful to nationwide sovereignty.

Hun Sen was succeeded by his son Hun Manet in 2023 however stays influential as Senate president. He was a longtime pal of her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a well-liked however divisive former prime minister, however they turned estranged over the border dispute.

The leaked name sparked widespread outrage and protests. Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party-led coalition additionally weakened when its second-largest associate, the Bhumjaithai Get together, withdrew help, citing her perceived softness towards Cambodia.

Paetongtarn has apologised and argued her feedback had been a negotiating tactic. Her ally, former defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai, was appointed performing prime minister.

Listed here are a few of the newest photographs of the Thailand-Cambodia battle coming to us by means of the wires:

Combating should first cease between Thailand and Cambodia earlier than there might be negotiations, Thailand’s performing premier mentioned on Thursday, Reuters reviews.

Phumtham Wechayachai instructed a press convention there had been no declaration of warfare and battle was not spreading into extra provinces.

He mentioned Cambodia had fired heavy weapons into Thailand with none particular targets, leading to civilian deaths.

The combating comes after clashes broke out close to the Khmer Hindu temple Ta Muen Thom on Thursday morning, alongside the border of Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.

The Thai army mentioned Cambodian troops had opened hearth close to the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone earlier than sending in troops with heavy weapons, together with rocket launchers.

Cambodia has denied the claims, with its ministry of nationwide defence saying it was the Thai army that launched the primary armed assault.

The ministry mentioned in an announcement:

Cambodian forces acted strictly throughout the bounds of self-defence, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity.

Border disputes are longstanding points which have prompted periodic tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the Related Press (AP) reviews.

The 2 neighbours share greater than 800 kilometres (500 miles) of land border.

The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn beneath French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand.

Cambodia has been utilizing the map as a reference to assert territory, whereas Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate.

Probably the most outstanding and violent conflicts have been across the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

In 1962, the Worldwide Court docket of Justice awarded sovereignty over the temple space to Cambodia. The ruling turned a significant irritant in bilateral relations.

Cambodia went again to the courtroom in 2011, after a number of clashes between its military and Thai forces that killed about 20 folks and displaced 1000’s. The courtroom reaffirmed the ruling in Cambodia’s favour in 2013.

Cambodia has once more turned to the worldwide courtroom to resolve the border disputes however Thailand has rejected the courtroom’s jurisdiction.

Unicef has requested for all events concerned within the battle to “exercise maximum restraint” in mild of the civilian casualties which were reported.

The UN company mentioned in an announcement on Thursday:

Unicef is deeply involved by the escalating violence alongside the Thailand-Cambodia border, which has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, together with the killing of youngsters, and the momentary closure of tons of of faculties in affected areas.

Unicef calls on all events to train most restraint and defend kids and the essential companies they depend on, in keeping with their obligations beneath worldwide regulation, together with the Conference on the Rights of the Baby. Kids should be protected always and their security and wellbeing should be prioritized, whereas colleges should stay secure areas for studying.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s prime minister who’s now suspended from workplace over her dealing with of the border dispute, has shared a following assertion on social media condemning Cambodia’s actions:

All alongside, Thailand has made each effort to have interaction in diplomatic dialogue to be able to keep away from confrontation, forestall additional escalation of the scenario and keep away from losses by exercising endurance and restraint whereas remaining dedicated to peaceable means. We firmly imagine that peace is the most effective path to resolving conflicts between nations.

In keeping with reviews from the authorities involved, I affirm that each one related companies have been working to their fullest capability. I sincerely hope that the continuing measures will carry an finish to violence and convey again peace to the folks on the earliest alternative.

I totally help all responsive actions taken by the federal government, the Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Overseas Affairs throughout the framework of worldwide regulation and rules. I ship my ethical help to all officers who’re at present defending our nationwide integrity and sovereignty, in addition to to the folks within the affected areas. I additionally categorical my deepest concern and heartfelt help for everybody’s security. As a highest precedence, I urge all residents to observe the federal government’s security protocols to protect lives and property.

Paetongtarn was suspended by the constitutional courtroom this month after a recording of her discussing the border dispute with Cambodia’s highly effective former chief Hun Sen was leaked.

Within the recording, she could possibly be heard calling Hun Sen, an previous household pal, “uncle” and saying that if there have been something he needed, she would “take care of it”.

She additionally made essential remarks a couple of senior Thai army commander. Paetongtarn confronted enormous criticism domestically over the decision, with opponents saying she failed to guard the nation’s pursuits.

Thailand’s well being minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, mentioned 12 folks, together with 11 civilians and one soldier, had been killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces, Reuters reviews.

He added that 24 civilians and 7 army personnel had been wounded.

One little one was included among the many civilians killed. There was no instant phrase of casualties in Cambodia.

The nation’s army mentioned in an announcement:

The Thai Military condemns Cambodia for utilizing weapons to assault civilians in Thailand. Thailand is able to defend sovereignty and our folks from inhumane motion.