Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen today (July 24) announced on social media that “Thailand’s military has launched an attack on Cambodian positions.”
Hun Sen stated, “Cambodia has consistently adhered to the position of peacefully resolving disputes. However, in this situation, Cambodia had no choice but to respond with force. The Cambodian government will defend national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the highest interests of its people in both military and diplomatic matters, and will provide assistance to citizens affected by the conflict.”
The Chairman of the Cambodian Senate, Hun Sen, also criticized “Thailand for first launching an attack on Cambodia” on social media, stating that “Cambodian forces were forced to retaliate.”
Today, Cambodia and Thailand engaged in firefighting near their border disputed areas. Both sides accused the other of opening fire first. According to a statement from the Thai military, Cambodian forces opened fire near the disputed Dok Phuong Temple area. It is reported that Cambodia deployed drones before sending troops equipped with heavy weapons to the area. Local officials in Thailand revealed to the media that Cambodian forces’ firing resulted in two deaths and two injuries among Thai civilians.
Recently, tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border have escalated due to a boundary dispute. At the beginning of this month, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha was suspended for related issues. The diplomatic relations between the two countries have further deteriorated, with each country recalling their ambassadors and expelling the other’s envoys. The downgrade in diplomatic relations was triggered by claims from Thailand that “a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine on July 23 at the Thai-Cambodian border.” Previously, incidents of Thai soldiers triggering landmines in the border region had occurred. Thailand accused Cambodia of planting landmines in the border area, which Cambodia denied.
Chairman of the Cambodian Senate, Hun Sen, said the border was hit by Thai artillery fire
On social media on July 24, Hun Sen, Chairman of the Cambodian Senate, stated that the border regions of Oudomxay Province and Prey Veng Province in Cambodia were hit by Thai artillery fire.
Thai soldiers began attacking Cambodian forces, who had no choice but to retaliate.
He urged the public not to panic, avoid hoarding goods, and called on vendors not to raise prices.
Maarit Sidhartha, Deputy State Secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia, stated in a declaration that “the Thai army first launched an armed attack on Cambodian forces, which was strictly within self-defense,” responding to the unprovoked incursion into Cambodian territory by the Thai army.
On July 24th, the Thai Army reported that a conflict occurred between the two sides after Cambodian forces opened fire at the border area in the morning. A Thai soldier was injured.
Thailand and Cambodia Suddenly Experience Firefights, Details Revealed
Colonel Lichachai, Deputy Spokesperson for the Thai Army, stated on July 24th that following the mine incident, the commander of the Second Military Region responsible for the defense along the Thai-Cambodian border, Bhinsara, ordered the closure of two disputed ancient temples and four checkpoints on July 23rd. At 7:25 AM local time on July 24th, Thai soldiers discovered a drone from Cambodian forces flying near the disputed ancient temple. By 8:20 AM local time, Cambodian soldiers fired at the Taman Ancient Temple duty point on the Thai side, which was retaliated upon by Thai soldiers.
According to reports by Thai media, at 7:35 AM on July 24th, Thai soldiers were laying wire mesh around the disputed ancient temple when Cambodian soldiers objected. Thai soldiers had informed Cambodia to close the temple. Subsequently, Cambodian soldiers set up weapons near the temple and six fully armed Cambodian soldiers approached the wire mesh laid out by the Thai side. Thai soldiers immediately raised their guard.
By 8:20 AM, Cambodian soldiers fired at the Taman Ancient Temple duty point on the Thai side, which was retaliated upon by Thai soldiers.
The Thai Army reported that at 9:40 AM local time on July 24th, two BM21 rockets fired by the Cambodian army hit a civilian community in Kampong Cham Province, Surin, Thailand, causing injuries to three civilians.