18 Cambodians Killed, Clashes with Thai Military Continue

JAKARTA - A total of 18 Cambodians were killed in a military clash on the border with Thailand. The Cambodian-Thai battle, which erupted since the beginning of December, is still ongoing.

Khmer Times newspaper quoted a statement from the Cambodian Ministry of Interior as saying that 78 Cambodians were also injured in the fighting, and more than 450,000 civilians were forced to flee their homes in border provinces.

In addition to UNESCO World Heritage sites, including ancient temples and other cultural or religious sites, as well as civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, hospitals, office buildings, and bridges, have been damaged.

Armed clashes erupted on the border between Thailand and Cambodia on December 7.

According to the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, Thailand launched an attack on Cambodian positions after days of provocations by the Thai military in border areas triggered a new confrontation.

The Royal Thai Army reported that Cambodian troops were the first to fire at Thai positions in the border region, and the Thai Air Force responded by attacking Cambodian military infrastructure to seize key areas and fight the enemy.