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Cambodia’s powerful Senate speaker Hun Sen vowed a “fierce fight” against Thailand as thousands of people were forced to flee their border homes in a second day of largely renewed fighting on Tuesday.
The resumption of hostilities has flared up after a Thai soldier was killed in clashes on Sunday night despite a ceasefire agreed in July.
The first five-day conflict, sparked by competing territorial claims, left dozens of civilians and military on both sides dead and more than 100,000 evacuated.
Both sides vow to keep fighting
Cambodia has escalated its border conflict with Thailand, with leader Hun Sen claiming his forces opened fire overnight after initially retreating on Monday.
Mr Sen outlined a strategy of “weakening and destroying enemy forces through counter-attacks” by focusing on areas of Thai advance.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s military said Cambodian artillery struck a village in Sa Keo province early Tuesday, although there were no casualties.
Thailand says Cambodian forces also fired on its troops on Sunday and Monday, as each side blames the other for the first shooting.
Hun Sen said, “Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight back to protect its territory.” Hun Sen was Cambodia’s longtime prime minister until 2023, when he was succeeded by his son Hun Manet, but is still widely seen as the country’s de facto leader.
Cambodia’s military announced Tuesday that seven civilians were killed and 20 wounded in the new fighting. A Thai military spokesman announced Tuesday that one soldier was killed and 29 were wounded in the new fighting.
Speaking at a press conference, Thai Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said the navy was strengthening its positions in eastern Thailand near the border with Cambodia.
Thailand carried out airstrikes along the border on Monday, which it said were defensive actions targeting military installations. Surasant said such operations would continue “until the attacks stop”.
Villagers on both sides ran towards safe places
A separate statement from Thailand’s 2nd Army region along the border said about 500 temporary shelters had been set up in four border provinces, housing 125,838 people. Additional refugees from the fighting are expected to stay with relatives in safe areas.
It said Cambodia attacked Thai positions with rocket and drone strikes.
Cambodia said people had fled villages near the border.
thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul Said in a televised speech on Monday that military operations would be carried out as needed to protect the country’s defense and public safety.
“Thailand has never wished for violence. I would like to reiterate that Thailand has never initiated hostilities or aggression, but it will never tolerate any violation of its sovereignty,” he said.
There is a history of ill will between the two countries
Thailand and Cambodia have a history Centuries of hostility and periodic tensions have been experienced over their land range of more than 800 kilometers (500 mi).
The ceasefire agreed to end the July fighting was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through due to pressure from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to withdraw trade privileges from both countries unless they agreed to it.
A more detailed agreement signed in October called for the removal of heavy weapons and equipment from the border; Refrain from spreading false information, accusations and harmful rhetoric; implementing measures to restore mutual trust and full diplomatic relations; and coordinating operations to remove land mines.
It appears that none of these actions have been implemented fully or in good faith by either party. Following the ceasefire, both countries continued a bitter propaganda war using disinformation along with minor incidents of cross-border violence.
Prisoners and landmines have been complex issues
A major complaint of the Cambodians is that Thailand still holds 18 prisoners captured when the ceasefire was activated. Thailand has accused Cambodia of laying new landmines in disputed areas, which in several cases has led to casualties among Thai soldiers. Cambodia says the mines are left over from decades of civil war that ended in 1999.
The mines issue led Thailand to announce earlier this month that it was indefinitely halting implementation of the details of the ceasefire unless Cambodia apologized for it.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the new fighting, particularly air strikes and the use of heavy weapons, and called on the warring parties to recommit to a ceasefire.