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The conflict is the newest in a long-running lethal border dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours.
At the least two Thai troopers have been injured in a conflict with Cambodian troops at a disputed space of their shared border, Thailand’s navy has stated.
The navy stated on Thursday that Cambodian troops had opened hearth earlier in an space close to the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple – positioned in a disputed border space in northwestern Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.
Thailand’s navy stated Cambodia had deployed a surveillance drone earlier than sending troops to the realm with heavy weapons and long-range BM21 rockets had been fired through the conflict.
Cambodia’s defence ministry issued its personal assertion on Thursday accusing Thailand of attacking first.
In response to the assertion, Cambodian troops retaliated after coming below assault from Thailand’s military and had solely acted in self-defence.
The nation’s influential former prime minister Hun Sen stated in a put up on social media that two Cambodian provinces bordering Thailand – Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear – had been shelled by Thailand’s navy.
Hun Sen stated “the Cambodian military has no selection however to battle again and counterattack”, whereas additionally calling for the general public to stay calm and never panic purchase rice and different meals provides.
“Please keep on regular enterprise in all sectors and in all places besides the border areas,” he stated.
The newest preventing follows after a Thai soldier sustained accidents on Wednesday and misplaced his proper leg in a landmine explosion, which authorities in Thailand have blamed on Cambodia. Three Thai troopers had been additionally injured by a mine blast whereas on a patrol alongside the disputed border space on July 16.
Cambodia has denied planting mines and claims that Thai troopers have veered off agreed jungle paths and triggered long-buried mines left behind from Cambodia’s a long time of civil conflict.
Following the newest landmine incident, Thailand’s governing Pheu Thai Celebration stated it had recalled Thailand’s ambassador to Cambodia and would expel Cambodia’s ambassador from the nation.
Thailand has additionally downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia, the social gathering stated.
In response, Cambodia stated that it might withdraw all of its diplomats from Thailand and ordered all Thai diplomats to go away the nation.
The Cambodian authorities has additionally downgraded diplomatic relations with Thailand to the “lowest degree”, decreasing it to the rank of “second secretary”, in accordance with native information outlet the Phnom Penh Publish.
In Could, the long-running border dispute between the 2 international locations boiled over into navy clashes that left one Cambodian soldier dead.
Border pressure has soured relations between the Southeast Asian neighbours, with the 2 sides buying and selling barbs and tit-for-tat retaliatory measures, together with the closure of border crossings.
Cambodia has additionally blocked imports of gasoline and gasoline, in addition to fruit and greens, from Thailand.
