Thailand has conducted a series of airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia, as tensions have flared up between the two countries after a period of peace established by a US-brokered agreement. The peace deal signed in October appears to have been disregarded, leading to renewed hostilities.
In July, long-standing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into conflict, resulting in five days of violent clashes that inflicted casualties on both military personnel and civilians from both nations. The Thai army claimed that Cambodian troops initiated the attack on Thai territory, resulting in casualties and the evacuation of civilians from affected areas.
Thai military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree stated that Thai aircraft targeted military sites in response to alleged Cambodian aggression. Despite Cambodia denying any retaliatory actions, Thailand continued its military operations.
Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata refuted Thailand’s claims, asserting that Cambodia did not provoke the conflict and called for Thailand to cease further hostilities in order to restore peace in the region.
The ceasefire brokered by the US was strained last month when Thai soldiers were injured by landmines, reigniting tensions between the two nations. Disputes over territory near key temples have been ongoing, rooted in conflicting interpretations of a map from the colonial era.
The territorial disagreements between Thailand and Cambodia are based on differing interpretations of historical maps, with Cambodia relying on a 1907 map to assert its claims while Thailand disputes the map’s accuracy. Both countries continue to accuse each other of triggering the recent incidents along their shared border.