Thailand-Cambodia Clash, Death Toll Rises to 32

The ongoing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has now claimed at least 32 lives, with over 130 people injured, according to Al Jazeera.

Cambodian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Mali Socheata told reporters on Saturday that 12 more people had died in recent fighting, including seven civilians and five soldiers.

She added that so far, at least 50 Cambodian civilians and more than 20 military personnel have been injured.

On the other hand, Thai authorities reported that in the past two days, Cambodian attacks have killed 13 Thai civilians—including children—and six soldiers. Additionally, more than 30 civilians and 29 soldiers have been injured.

According to The Khmer Times, citing officials in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, nearly 20,000 people have already been evacuated from northern border areas to safer locations.

Thai officials stated that over 138,000 people have been relocated from border areas, and nearly 300 temporary shelters have been set up. Furthermore, on Friday, martial law was declared in eight border provinces of Thailand.

The decades-old conflict over a disputed section of the Thai-Cambodian border flared up again on Thursday after a landmine explosion injured five Thai soldiers.

Thailand has accused Cambodia of launching rocket attacks on civilian targets, including one on a petrol station that killed six people.

In retaliation, the Thai military deployed F-16 fighter jets to bomb targets inside Cambodia. Among the strikes was one on a Buddhist monastery, where a civilian was killed.