The US has asked Thailand and Cambodia to cease hostilities immediately as border clashes extended for a third day, killing at least 10 people and displacing hundreds of thousands. The two nations must follow de-escalatory measures outlined in a peace accord brokered by US President Donald Trump in October, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Trump has also said that he would make a phone call to stop the fighting, which is the most serious escalation since clashes in July killed dozens of people. Both countries have blamed each other for re-igniting the fighting, which has seen air strikes and exchanges of artillery fire.
The death toll over three days of hostilities stands at 10 - seven from Cambodia and three from Thailand. Thai officials said they evacuated more than 400,000 people, while Phnom Penh reported that 100,000 on the Cambodian side have been moved to shelters. Thailand's defence ministry stated that military actions were limited in scope and employed as a last option. Peace must come with the safety and security of our citizens, full stop, the ministry's spokesman said. Cambodia, meanwhile, accused Thailand of launching aggressive military attacks targeting civilian institutions and cultural sites along the disputed border.
Additionally, Cambodia announced its withdrawal from the South East Asian Games hosted in Thailand over concerns expressed by the families of its athletes. This week, the UN Secretary-General urged both nations to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation, noting significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. The century-old border dispute between the two nations has seen fluctuations in hostility, with a recent increase in violence following clashes in July. The renewed fighting has prompted travel warnings from several countries, including the US and Japan.
The death toll over three days of hostilities stands at 10 - seven from Cambodia and three from Thailand. Thai officials said they evacuated more than 400,000 people, while Phnom Penh reported that 100,000 on the Cambodian side have been moved to shelters. Thailand's defence ministry stated that military actions were limited in scope and employed as a last option. Peace must come with the safety and security of our citizens, full stop, the ministry's spokesman said. Cambodia, meanwhile, accused Thailand of launching aggressive military attacks targeting civilian institutions and cultural sites along the disputed border.
Additionally, Cambodia announced its withdrawal from the South East Asian Games hosted in Thailand over concerns expressed by the families of its athletes. This week, the UN Secretary-General urged both nations to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation, noting significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. The century-old border dispute between the two nations has seen fluctuations in hostility, with a recent increase in violence following clashes in July. The renewed fighting has prompted travel warnings from several countries, including the US and Japan.
