Thai military spokesmen reported that clashes, both small and heavy-weapon, have extended to six locations along the border.
A total of at least eight persons have perished in the border riots between Thailand and Cambodia, Thai police indicated on Thursday. The attacks broke out at the contested Ta Muen Thom temple area in Thailand's Surin province, a historic location also sought by Cambodia.
Thai officials said two BM-21 rockets fired from Cambodia struck civilian targets in Kap Choeng district of Surin province, injuring three citizens. One of the rockets fell into a convenience store in Ban Nam Yen, about 20 kilometers from the Cambodian border, confirmed local officials.
"These actions have caused additional deaths and injuries to the Thai people," a Thai Foreign Ministry official told a press conference, adding that attacks also rained on Phanom Dong Rak Hospital.
Thai military spokesmen reported that clashes, both small and heavy-weapon, have extended to six locations along the border. Areas affected are Surin province, Sisaket, and Ubon Ratchathani.
Thailand asserted that its troops reacted when they were fired upon by Cambodian soldiers. Thailand sent six F-16 fighter planes in response, said to have destroyed two regional Cambodian military headquarters.
"Thailand has prepared six F-16 jets," Thai authorities declared, affirming airstrikes in response to rocket attacks.
Cambodia's Defense Ministry confirmed Thai warplanes carried out the airstrikes, including an attack in which an F-16 released two bombs along a road that leads to Wat Kaew Seekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda, which it asserts is within Cambodian territory.
In a bitterly worded release, Cambodia denounced Thailand's aerial bombings and blamed its neighbour for "brutal, barbaric, and violent military aggression."
"All of these areas are inside Cambodian territory … and are actively defended by Cambodian troops," Cambodia's Defence Ministry stated.
Cambodia also charged that Thailand's actions contravene international law and pose a challenge to regional peace and the international rules-based order.
"Thailand's actions represent a profound threat not only to regional peace and stability but also to the cornerstone of the international rules-based order," the statement noted.
The border skirmishes erupted early Thursday at the contested site of the disputed temple. Each side accused the other of starting the hostilities, and the situation remains unstable as further troop movements and air movements are being tracked.
Although Thailand has reported casualties and deaths on its civilian side, Cambodia has not given any casualty rates on its side. Fighting still goes on despite diplomatic relations being strained, and world viewers have been raising red flags over the intensifying clashes.
