Overview
- Hostilities entered a second day with firefights reported in six of seven Thai border provinces, and Thailand signaled operations could continue until it judges its sovereignty secure.
- Thailand confirmed at least one soldier killed, while Cambodia’s Interior Ministry reported seven civilian deaths and about 20 wounded since the latest flare-up.
- Thai forces conducted airstrikes on what they described as Cambodian fire-support positions, citing a buildup of heavy weapons across the frontier.
- Both governments blamed each other for starting the clashes; Thailand alleged BM-21 rocket fire toward civilian areas, while Cambodia accused Thailand of overnight bombardment using drones and “poisonous smoke.”
- Roughly 400,000 people have been evacuated from border areas, and regional and global leaders, including ASEAN’s chair, the UN and the EU, urged restraint as the October peace declaration teeters.