Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand has entered its fifth day, with Cambodia accusing the Thai military of continuing shelling and Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirming he plans to meet US President Donald Trump.
Thai forces allegedly carried out new attacks in three Cambodian provinces early Friday morning, according to Cambodian news outlet Khmer Times.
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The newspaper reported that Thai troops opened fire in the Ta Moan, Ta Kla Bey and Tomar Daun areas of Cambodia’s Odar Meanchey province.
The newspaper also reported Thai shelling in Phnom Khaing and Anses areas in Thailand’s Preah Vihear province, and in Prey Chan village and Boun Trakuan area in nearby Banteay Meanchey province.
No new casualties have been reported since fighting resumed.
At least 20 people have been killed and nearly 200 more injured on both sides since fighting resumed on Monday.
An estimated 600,000 people have also been displaced on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border since a peace deal brokered by President Trump collapsed in October.
In a Facebook post, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense also denied as “fake news” claims by the Thai military that it uses foreign mercenaries to operate suicide drones to attack targets in Thailand.
“The Cambodian Ministry of Defense wishes to reject propaganda spread on the Thai Second Military Region Facebook page accusing Cambodia of using foreigners to launch FPV (first-person view) drones in the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict,” the ministry said.
Separately, the ministry also denied accusations in Thai media that it was preparing to launch Chinese-made PHL-03 missiles in a border dispute.
According to US military databases, the PHL-03 is a truck-mounted multiple rocket artillery capable of firing guided and unguided rockets with a range of 70 km to 130 km (43.5 miles to 81 miles), while Cambodia’s BM-21 Soviet-designed multiple rocket artillery has a range of only 15 km to 40 km (9.3 miles to 25 miles).
“Cambodia calls on the Thai side to stop intentionally spreading false news to portray Cambodia as an excuse to use more violent weapons against Cambodia and to divert attention to violations of international law,” the defense ministry said.
The Southeast Asian neighbors have accused each other of reigniting a conflict centered on a centuries-old border dispute along their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border, where both countries claim ownership of a handful of historic temples.
Fighting between artillery, fighter jets, tanks and drones continues after Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin confirmed he will meet with President Trump at 21:20 local time (14:20 GMT) on Friday.
President Trump on Wednesday promised to reach out to the leaders of both countries and said he believed “we can get them to stop fighting.”
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said Thursday that President Trump had not yet called the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, but added that “the administration is clearly following this matter at the highest levels and is working very diligently.”
Thailand’s top diplomat Sihasak Phunketkeo met with US diplomat Marco Rubio on Friday ahead of a scheduled phone call between President Trump and Anutin, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Sihasak told Rubio that Thailand is committed to a peaceful solution, but a sustainable peace must be backed by action and genuine commitment, the ministry said in a statement, adding that Rubio confirmed that the United States stands ready to constructively promote peace.
Anutin also said his decision to dissolve parliament earlier than expected on Thursday would not affect the management of the ongoing border dispute.
The move comes after a breakdown in relations between Anutin’s Thai Pride Party and the opposition People’s Party, the main force in Thailand’s parliament.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakurkiat said the legislative impasse had paralyzed government policy and meant Mr Anutin’s party was “unable to advance in parliament”.
Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn supported dissolution, the country’s Official Gazette announced on Friday, paving the way for early elections.
Thailand will now need to conduct a national opinion poll within 45 to 60 days.
