The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalated, with Thailand deploying F-16 fighter jets to launch airstrikes on military sites in Cambodia on Monday (December 8), resulting in the death of four civilians. This is the most dramatic escalation of the conflict between the two sides in months, and it also puts the ceasefire agreement mediated by US President Trump at risk of collapse.
The Thai military said that the Cambodian army fired light weapons, machine guns, mortars, and artillery at multiple border locations, causing at least two Thai soldiers to die and eight others to be injured. As a result, the Thai side launched a ground attack and deployed F-16 fighter jets for airstrikes.
Thai Army spokesperson Wentai said, "After observing Cambodia's continued attacks on Thai troops, the Thai side had no choice but to take self-defense actions... Cambodia has a history of multiple violations of ceasefire agreements
Cambodia reported that four civilians lost their lives in the conflict. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense stated in a statement that Cambodia did not retaliate against Thailand's airstrikes.
Thailand and Cambodia have long had a border dispute, and the two countries officially signed a peace agreement at the end of October under the witness of Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, conflicts continue to occur in the border areas.
The two countries clashed again in the border area on Sunday (7th), with both sides accusing each other of opening fire first, and the situation continued to escalate.
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