Thailand bombs border area with Cambodia as ceasefire talks continue

Thailand carried out airstrikes on a disputed border area with Cambodia on Friday, as officials from both sides continued negotiations to try to end the fighting.

The Thai air force said it struck a Cambodian “fortified military position” after civilians left the area. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry accused Thailand of “indiscriminate attacks” on civilian homes and injuring several people.

Fighting resumed earlier this month after a fragile ceasefire in July ended five days of intense border clashes.

At least 41 people have been killed and nearly a million people displaced since the resumption of hostilities.

The two countries blame each other for the breakdown of the truce.

Since then, fighting has spread to almost every province along the 800-kilometre-long border.

Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said Friday’s attacks took place in the country’s northwest province of Banteay Meanchey. Up to 40 bombs were dropped by F-16 fighter jets, the ministry said in a Facebook post.

Thailand said the action was aimed at controlling the village of Nong Chan and was “carried out effectively and successfully”.

It came as Thai and Cambodian negotiators held their third day of negotiations at a border checkpoint. Defense ministers from both sides are expected to join the discussions on Saturday.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Friday that once both sides agree to each other’s terms, a ceasefire agreement could be signed.

“I hope this time will be the last time we have to sign, so that peace can be established in the region,” he said.[and] people can go home. »

The United States and China also attempted to negotiate a new ceasefire.

The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century and sporadic clashes have occurred over the years, with soldiers and civilians killed on both sides.

But in May, tensions escalated after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. And on July 24, the situation dramatically worsened after Cambodian rockets fired into Thailand, followed by Thai airstrikes. This sparked five days of intense fighting, which left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead.