Clashes erupted early this morning between Thai and Cambodian forces near the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple on the Thai-Cambodian border. One Thai soldier was killed in the fighting, and 11 civilians died in rocket attacks launched by the Cambodian army on Thai villages. Around 40,000 civilians were evacuated from 86 villages in the region.
In response, Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodian military targets. The Thai government temporarily closed border crossings, and diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has appealed to the UN for urgent intervention, calling Thailand’s actions “aggressive.”
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been high for years, fueled by disputes over border areas, including the Ta Moan Thom Temple.