Over 130,000 Displaced as Thailand-Cambodia Border Fighting Escalates
Deadly Clashes Erupt on Thailand-Cambodia Border
Deadly fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has spread along their shared border. The clashes entered a second day on Friday. At least 16 people are dead. More than 50 are hurt. Over 130,000 have fled their homes.
The violence began on Thursday near the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple. The temple site is on disputed land. Both countries say the other fired first. Gunfire soon turned into mortar and artillery fire. Heavy shelling hit villages and fields near the border. Fighting then spread to several border crossings and outposts.
Thailand reports 14 of its citizens dead. It says 46 are wounded. More than 138,000 have been forced to leave their homes. Cambodia reports one death, five hurt, and thousands displaced from Oddar Meanchey province. Thai leader Phumtham Wechayachai blamed Cambodia for targeting civilians. He called the attacks war crimes. Thailand answered with F-16 airstrikes on Cambodian positions. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said seven sites were hit by Thai bombs on Friday. Local officials say many villages near the fighting are now empty. Most people fled with only a few belongings. Some walked for hours through forests to escape. Many are now in crowded shelters. Supplies of food and clean water are running low.
How the Clashes Grew
The fighting began as a brief gun battle Thursday morning. Thai and Cambodian troops were patrolling near the disputed temple. Both sides accuse the other of crossing into their land. Witnesses heard bursts of rifle fire, then explosions from mortars. The gun battle soon became a heavy exchange of shells.
By Thursday evening, the fighting had reached three border points. Thai officials said Cambodia fired first.
Cambodia said Thai soldiers opened fire without warning. Independent observers have not confirmed either claim.
On Friday, Thai jets joined the fight. Videos posted online showed F-16s dropping bombs near the border.
Thai officials said the strikes targeted military posts, not villages. Cambodia claims at least two villages were hit. The fighting continued into Friday night. Both sides reported new casualties. Villagers on both sides left homes behind, fearing the next wave of attacks.
Human Toll
The clashes have created a crisis for families along the border. Thailand says more than 138,000 people have moved to safer areas. Schools and sports centers are now shelters. Many families sleep on floors with little privacy. Volunteers bring food, but supplies are tight.
Cambodia reports thousands displaced in Oddar Meanchey. Some have crossed deeper into Cambodia.
Others are camping near pagodas and empty fields. Health workers fear outbreaks of illness due to poor sanitation. Most refugees say they fear the fighting will last for weeks. Many say they may lose their farms and animals. Some say their homes have already been destroyed by shelling.
A Dispute with Deep Roots
The border has been tense for decades. Most of the disputes link back to old colonial maps. In the early 1900s, French surveyors drew the maps. Some marked land as Cambodian that Thailand also claimed. The two sides have never fully agreed on those lines.
Tensions often flare around ancient temples. These sites attract tourists and hold cultural importance. The Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple is one such site. It sits near a rugged, forested border area. Both nations say the land around it belongs to them. Clashes have broken out here before. In 2011, fighting near another temple killed 20 people. That conflict lasted several weeks. It only ended after international mediation.
Political Sparks
This new round of fighting is not just about land. It also ties into politics in both nations. Relations worsened after a leaked phone call between leaders. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen released a private call. The call was with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The leak caused a political storm in Thailand. Shinawatra was suspended while under investigation. Analysts say the leak deepened mistrust between the two countries.
Many fear leaders are using the conflict to rally support at home. Nationalist groups in both nations have called for stronger action. The rising tension makes peace talks harder.
