Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Cambodia has closed the border checkpoint with Thailand. while the fighting with Thailand continues This is despite US President Donald Trump previously saying that both Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior stated that The border checkpoint will be closed until further notice.
Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he had told Trump that a ceasefire would happen only after Cambodia withdraws its troops and clears all mines.
Thai officials said four Thai soldiers were killed yesterday, as the two warring countries reported continued bombing and artillery fire. Cambodia has not yet updated its military death toll.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense said: Thai warplanes dropped bombs on buildings, hotels and bridges. Meanwhile, Thailand reported that several civilians were injured in Cambodian rocket attacks.
4 more deaths yesterday This brings the death toll of Thai soldiers since Monday to 15 and another 270 injured. Thailand also said another six civilians were injured.
On Friday, Cambodia said at least 11 civilians had been killed and 59 others injured.
At least 700,000 people from both countries have been forced to flee their homes along the border.
a week ago Trump claimed he was able to stop fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces that broke out on Monday. By just talking over the phone
After speaking with the two prime ministers on Friday night (Dec. 12), Trump wrote on social media that the two countries had agreed to “Cease fire from this evening onwards” and return to previous agreements. which was signed in the presence of the President of the United States in October.
“Both countries are ready for peace,” he said.
But in interviews with the US presidents from both sides, there was no mention of an upcoming ceasefire.
Anutin said He told Trump: Thailand is not the aggressor. And Cambodia must show it has withdrawn troops and cleared landmines from its border. Therefore there will be a ceasefire. “They have to show us first,” Mr. Anutin said.
The Cambodian leader said They must continue to fight to protect the country’s sovereignty.
There was no mention of using tariffs as a tool to force both sides to withdraw troops. Just like what happened in July.
In addition, Thailand has warned the United States. Do not link conflict with trade.
Yesterday, the Cambodian side reported that the country had come under additional airstrikes from Thailand.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said in a post on
and added that “Thai warplanes continue to drop bombs.”
The Thai military has confirmed that fighting continues.
The long-running border dispute intensified again on July 24 when Cambodia launched a rocket attack on Thailand. To which Thailand responded with air attacks.
Both countries accuse the other of starting the attack.
After days of fierce fighting that left dozens dead, the two Southeast Asian neighbors agreed to “Immediate and unconditional ceasefire” mediated by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim The agreement was officially signed at a ceremony in Malaysia in October chaired by the US president.
However, the two sides continued to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement. Thailand has published evidence that Cambodian soldiers laid landmines. which caused 7 Thai soldiers to lose limbs Cambodia says the mines are left over from a civil war in the 1980s.
since then Tensions continued to rise.
in the past week Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodia after two Thai soldiers were injured in clashes on Sunday.
Cambodia responded with rocket attacks. The fighting has affected six provinces in northeastern Thailand and six provinces in northern and northwestern Cambodia.
The two countries have been arguing over their 800-kilometer land border for more than a century. The border was defined by French cartographers in 1907 when France was the colonial ruler of Cambodia.
