JAKARTA - Thailand and Cambodia's military clashes resumed on the fourth day on Thursday (11/12). This condition forced more residents to flee the border area and increase the number of fatalities to 16 people.
Cambodian Senior Minister General Kun Kim said between 130,000 and 150,000 residents are currently taking refuge in temporary shelter locations, according to the Khmer Times.
Cambodia's Ministry of Defense said Thai forces continued to attack border areas and cultural sites with heavy weapons and F-16 fighter jets, according to government news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse.
Cambodia's Interior Ministry reported 10 civilians were killed and about 60 others injured since Monday (8/12).
The Phnom Penh government also sent a letter to the UN Security Council on Wednesday (10/12), accusing Thailand of committing acts of armed aggression that were not provoked, violated the law, and continued to increase.
Meanwhile, the Thai Royal Army accused Cambodian troops of carrying out a sustainable attack along the Thailand-Kamboja border since December 7, firing light weapons and heavy weapons at Thai territory, including residential areas and medical facilities, according to a Thai Enquirer report.
Responding to Cambodia's accusations of damage to civilian areas and historical sites, the Thai Army declared their intelligence showing Cambodian troops placing military positions within civilian communities, casino buildings, and historic sites to make the location a shield.
Thai Defense Ministry Spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said more than 400,000 people had been evacuated to a safe place.
Since Monday, clashes have killed six Thai soldiers and forced more than half a million people to flee on both sides of the border. Thailand confirmed the use of F-16 fighter jets in attacks on Cambodian territory, while Cambodian authorities have not provided data on casualties from its military side.
Schools in several border districts were closed and partially converted into emergency shelters.
Speculation on the dissolution of the Thai parliament
Amid speculation Thailand may dissolve parliament for early elections, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said, "There is no government move to dissolve the House of Representatives that will disrupt national security operations on the Cambodian border," as quoted by Bangkok Post.
The previous Anutin indicated that the DPR could be disbanded before January 31.
Thailand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Cherdchai Civaivid, also sent a letter to the Secretary-General and UN Security Council, accusing Cambodia of "serious military attacks and not being provoked" against the Thai territory.
The letter rejects accusations Thailand started the battle and calls it "disinformation that was deliberately made to distort the facts."
Cambodia has attracted its athletes from the 33rd SEA Games competition in 2025 in Thailand for safety reasons.
The country's authorities are also gathering evidence to possibly bring the case to the International Criminal Court in The Hague in response to Thailand's armed aggression against Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The two countries accused each other of having started clashes this week, which they said violated a peace agreement signed in October in Kuala Lumpur in the presence of United States President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anadolu tidak dapat secara independent memverifikasi klaim dan bantahan dari kedua pihak.
Meanwhile, the United States expressed concern over the escalating violence, and Trump is scheduled to speak with leaders of the two warring countries.
Thailand and Cambodia have long-term border disputes that have repeatedly sparked clashes, including last July when at least 48 people were killed. About 18 Cambodian soldiers are still in Thailand custody due to the last five months.
Land borders between the two countries have been closed since July, limiting cross-border economic movement and activity.
Separately, the Chinese Embassy issued a security appeal in Cambodia, asking its citizens to avoid border areas amid ongoing clashes.
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