KANTHARALAK, Thailand (AP) – On Sunday, Thailand’s government reported that a rocket attack from Cambodia resulted in the death of a 63-year-old villager, marking the first civilian casualty linked to the ongoing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. This incident adds to the growing tension in a situation that has seen both nations engage in extensive fighting since December 7, when a skirmish resulted in injuries to two Thai soldiers.
The escalating violence stems from long-standing territorial disputes over patches of land along the border, which include historical temple ruins. Official reports indicate that over two dozen individuals from both sides have been killed in the past week, while more than half a million people have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the conflict.
Witnesses from The Associated Press arrived shortly after the rocket landed in Sisaket province’s Kantharalak District. They saw the body of the deceased man, identified as Don Patchapan, being transported to an ambulance. Nearby, flames engulfed a house as local volunteers attempted to extinguish the fire using buckets of water. Shrapnel believed to be from the rocket was also found embedded in the road, highlighting the destructiveness of the attack.
According to a Thai Army statement, the explosion occurred in a residential area close to a school. Thai Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat condemned Cambodia for its actions, describing the rocket fire as “cruel and inhumane.” In response, Cambodia has deployed truck-mounted BM-21 rocket launchers, which can cover distances of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles) and are capable of firing up to 40 rockets at once, although they lack precision targeting capabilities.
Thai officials claim that Cambodia has been launching thousands of these rockets daily. In counteraction, the Thai military has conducted airstrikes using fighter planes, while Cambodia has stated that such bombings persisted throughout Sunday. Both countries have utilized drones for surveillance and bomb delivery, intensifying the conflict.
The Thai military has reported the death of 15 of its soldiers during the recent hostilities, while estimating that at least 221 Cambodian soldiers have perished, a claim Cambodia has denounced as misinformation. Cambodia has acknowledged at least 11 civilian deaths and numerous injuries among its populace, indicating the tragic toll of the conflict on both military and civilian life.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet, issued a message of resilience to his compatriots on Sunday, commending their strength in facing what he termed aggression from neighboring countries. The current fighting disrupted a ceasefire previously established with the involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump, which had successfully halted hostilities for five days in July. This ceasefire, facilitated by Malaysia and backed by Trump’s diplomatic pressure, was formalized in October during a regional meeting in Malaysia.
Despite Trump’s announcement on Friday regarding a renewed ceasefire agreement, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has denied any commitment to cease hostilities, while Cambodia has reaffirmed its stance of continuing the fight in self-defense. The situation has further spiraled, with clashes reported as Thai Navy warships engaged in exchanges of fire with Cambodian forces off the coast of Koh Kong, each side blaming the other for initiating the conflict on this new front.
The current violence underscores the fragility of peace in the region, as both nations struggle to resolve their territorial disputes while avoiding further civilian casualties and escalation of military confrontations.
