Thailand-Kamboja War On Border Kills 12 People, PM Anwar Ibrahim Encourages Negotiations

Thailand-Kamboja/PHOTO Syced Border Via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Thailand's F-16 fighter jets bombed a number of targets in Cambodia amid weeks of tensions over a border dispute that escalated to clashes on Thursday.

Recent reports say Thai-Kambodia military clashes killed 12 people, including 11 civilians.

Of the six F-16 fighter jets Thailand has prepared to deploy along the disputed border, one of which shot down Cambodia's military targets, the Thai military said.

The two countries accused each other of starting the clashes on Thursday, July 24, in the early hours of the morning.

"We have used air power against military targets as planned," Deputy spokesman for the Thai Army, Richa Suksuwanon, told reporters.

Thailand has also closed its border with Cambodia.

Cambodia's Ministry of Defense said fighter jets dropped two bombs on the road.

Cambodia strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression by the Kingdom of Thailand against its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Clashes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia on Wednesday night and said it would expel Cambodian envoys in Bangkok.

This comes after a second Thai soldier in a week lost his limbs to a landmine that Bangkok allegedly installed recently in a disputed area.

Thailand's Health Minister said 11 civilians, including a child, and a soldier were killed by artillery fire by Cambodian forces.

In addition, 24 civilians and seven military personnel were reported injured. There have been no direct reports of casualties in Cambodia.

"The Thai army condemns Cambodia for using weapons to attack civilians in Thailand. Thailand is ready to protect our sovereignty and people from inhumane acts," the Thai military said.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, chairman of the current ASEAN Southeast Asian bloc, where Thailand and Cambodia are also members, urged them to remain calm and said they would speak with leaders of the two countries to resolve their dispute peacefully.

China also expressed concern over the fighting and said it was willing to play a role in encouraging de-escalation.

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said Thai airstrikes were "unwarranted" and called on neighboring countries to withdraw their troops and refrain from further provocative measures that could exacerbate the situation.

For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have been fighting for sovereignty at various points that are unrestricted along their 817 km (508 miles) long land border, leading to minor fighting for several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long artillery shootout in 2011.

Tensions escalated again in May after the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a brief firefight, which escalated to a massive diplomatic crisis and has now sparked armed clashes.