Thailand Temporarily Closes 751 Schools Bordering Cambodia

UNSPLASH/Nopparuh Lamaikukul ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Thai authorities have temporarily closed 751 schools in the Cambodian border area amid rising tensions between the two countries.

Most of the schools that were closed were located in the border province of Leaveket, the newspaper The Nation reported.

The Cambodian newspaper The Khmer Times reports Cambodia has also temporarily closed all 260 schools in the province of Oddar Meanchey.

The province of Oddar Meanchey borders Thailand and has been the center of armed conflict for the past two days, particularly in the temples of Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Wat Tham Suea.

Reported by ANTARA from Sputnik/RIA Novosti-OANA, the Thai military said fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces continued with new intensity on Friday, July 25.

Cambodia is again using the BM-21 Grad double-launch rocket system to attack civilian targets deep within the Thai region.

Thai forces responded with proportional countermeasures based on tactical situations, the military said.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalated to an armed phase on July 24, Many were killed and many injured on both sides, including civilians.

The tensions followed clashes on May 28 between Thai military and Cambodian personnel in the disputed neutral zone, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.