JAKARTA - Cambodia released a video showing its military troops lowering the Thai flag and recapturing the Boeng Trakuon checkpoint, as the border clashes entered their sixth day and continued to escalate.
The video, published on Thursday, December 11 by Fresh News Cambodia, shows Cambodian soldiers entering the Boeng Trakuon post in Thmar Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, which borders directly with Thailand's Sa Kaeo province.
A day earlier, Wednesday, December 10, Thai media released images of their troops planting a flag at the Boeng Trakuon outpost. Thai troops were seen supported by armored vehicles and installing barbed wire along the road as protection for soldiers and civilians.
However, Cambodia claimed to have successfully repelled the Thai troops and regained control of the area. The following images released by Cambodian authorities show that there are no more Thai soldiers or armored vehicles in the post area.
Cambodian troops were seen lowering the Thai flag, flying their national flag, and dismantling the barbed wire fence that had been installed by Thailand.
Cambodia insists the area is a fixed-boundary territory. But they accuse the Thai military of violating international law by entering and engaging in combat in the area.
Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, a spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, accused Thailand of launching a "preemptive attack" on Cambodian soldiers and civilians.
He warned that without international pressure, Thailand "can continue to be aggressive towards Phnom Penh and other small countries in the future."
The Thai military has not directly commented on Cambodia's claims. However, on December 11, Thai military spokesman Surasant Kongsiri confirmed that the army, navy, and air force would continue to work together to "neutralize Cambodia's military capabilities," especially in areas considered to threaten Thailand's security.
Thai Air Force spokesman Jakkrit Thamwichai said the air raids would be reinforced "depending on developments on the battlefield," and would continue until Cambodia stopped actions deemed a threat to Thailand's sovereignty.
The Royal Thai Navy also reported the activities of the elite forces of the Royal Cambodian Gendarmerie (BHQ) near the border coastal line. Thailand assessed that several buildings in the area had been converted into military bases, prompting the decision to launch a preliminary artillery attack using warships.
Despite international efforts to encourage a ceasefire, the situation on the Cambodian-Thai border has not shown any signs of easing. The clashes, which have lasted six days, have forced hundreds of thousands of people from both countries to flee.
Cambodia reported 10 civilian deaths and 60 injuries. Thailand recorded 9 soldiers and 3 civilians dead and 120 injured.
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