Cross-border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its third day, with artillery exchanges and air raids pushing more than half a million people from their homes. Both sides accuse the other of reigniting a conflict that has killed at least 13 soldiers and civilians since Monday, and shows no sign of cooling.
“More than 400,000 people have been moved to safe shelters across seven provinces,” Thai defence spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri told reporters, saying evacuations were triggered by “an imminent threat to their safety”.
Bangkok says rockets fired from Cambodia hit near Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin, forcing patients and staff into bunkers.
Across the border, Cambodia’s defence ministry said “101,229 people have been evacuated to safe shelters and relatives’ homes in five provinces”. Local media in Phnom Penh reported Thai F-16s struck two areas in Cambodia, while shelling continued in at least three more. Thai outlets say jets were deployed to attack “one Cambodian military target” Wednesday morning.
Cambodian forces returned fire with rockets and artillery, hitting front-line zones in four Thai provinces, according to Thailand’s The Nation. Casualty figures from the latest attacks are still unconfirmed.
This border has flared before, but the scale of displacement and aerial involvement suggests a dangerous escalation, one that could draw in regional diplomacy fast, or burn hotter before anyone reaches for the brakes.
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