Twelve killed in Thailand-Cambodia military clashes on disputed border

At least twelve people have been killed in violent clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops along their disputed border, according to Thai officials. The fighting is the latest and most serious in a long-running disagreement between the two Southeast Asian countries, which has lasted for more than a century. Most of those killed were civilians from three Thai provinces, and several others were wounded. Cambodia has not yet confirmed if it suffered any casualties.

The conflict began early Thursday morning, with both sides blaming each other for starting the violence. Thailand accused Cambodia of firing rockets, while Cambodia said Thai soldiers advanced on a temple near the border, breaking a previous agreement. The situation quickly escalated, with Thailand launching air strikes on Cambodian military targets. In response to the violence, Thailand closed its border with Cambodia, and Cambodia downgraded its diplomatic ties with Thailand, accusing the Thai military of using excessive force. Both countries have urged people living near the border to evacuate, and Thailand has moved 40,000 civilians to safer areas.

A local resident from Thailand's Buriram province described the situation as very serious, saying that people were being evacuated quickly. Thai authorities reported that eleven civilians, including an eight-year-old and a fifteen-year-old, as well as one soldier, were killed in the provinces of Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, and Srisaket. The two countries have given different accounts of what happened. Thailand claims the conflict started when Cambodia used drones to spy on Thai troops, while Cambodia says Thai soldiers broke an agreement by moving towards a Khmer-Hindu temple.

The border dispute goes back to the time when the French controlled Cambodia and drew the borders between the two countries. Tensions increased in 2008 when Cambodia tried to register an ancient temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which angered Thailand. Since then, there have been occasional clashes, with both soldiers and civilians killed. The latest round of violence began in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed, leading to the worst relations between the two countries in over a decade. In recent months, both countries have imposed restrictions on each other, including bans on imports and increased military presence along the border.

The leaders of both countries have called for peace but have also warned that they will defend their nations if necessary. Thailand's acting prime minister said the situation is delicate and must be handled carefully, while Cambodia's prime minister said his country wants a peaceful solution but will respond to aggression. Although the fighting has calmed down for now, tensions remain high, and it is uncertain if the two countries can resolve their differences soon. The people living near the border hope for a peaceful end to the conflict.