Bangkok: The armed forces of Cambodia and Thailand continued exchanging fire across their shared border on Saturday, marking the third consecutive day of hostilities, despite urgent calls from regional and international bodies for de-escalation.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the ongoing conflict has resulted in dozens of projectiles landing in neighboring Laos, causing damage to civilian properties. Maj-Gen Winthai Suwaree, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army, stated that these shells were not launched from Thai territory. He accused Cambodian forces of employing long-range weapons against civilian targets, alleging an attempt to create friction between Thailand and Laos. He further emphasized that the Royal Thai Army is coordinating with Laotian authorities to sustain amicable neighborly relations.
In a related development, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) dismissed Cambodian assertions that Thai jet fighters had been shot down. A statement from the RTAF clarified that two F-16 jets and two Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft had successfully targeted Cambodian military positions at Ta Kwai Temple in Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province. The statement confirmed that the mission was successful and that all aircraft returned safely to their base in Thailand.
The Thai Foreign Ministry has criticized Cambodia for rejecting calls for substantive dialogue aimed at peacefully resolving the ongoing dispute, underscoring the complexity and potential ramifications of the conflict.