Conflict has broken out between Thailand and Cambodia. Bombs have been dropped and lives have been lost – as tensions escalate along the border.
But how did this all start? What’s the context?
And – most importantly – how does this end? Both nations accuse each other of starting the conflict, which has seen exchanges of gun and rocket fire in at least six areas along the border.
Thailand has closed its entire 500-mile long border with its neighbour, and has launched air strikes against military targets inside Cambodia. Relations between the Southeast Asian neighbors have deteriorated sharply since an armed confrontation in May that killed a Cambodian soldier.
The Thai army said it launched airstrikes Thursday on ground military targets in Cambodia, while the Cambodian Defense Ministry said the Thai jets dropped bombs on a road near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
A livestream video from the Thai side of the border showed people running from their homes and hiding in a concrete bunker on Thursday morning, as explosions sounded.
Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs said Cambodia has attacked both military and non-military sites in Thailand, including a hospital.
In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed by Thai forces – plunging relations to new lows – and igniting a diplomatic and political crisis. Thailand’s prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawat had a call with Cambodia’s de facto leader Hun Sen.
In that call, Paetongtarn called Hun Sen “uncle” – and offered to arrange anything he wanted – she also referred to her own military as “the opposite side”.
————————–
• Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj
• Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news
Follow ITV News on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@itvnews?lang=en
Follow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on X: https://twitter.com/itvnews
