On December 10, more than 500,000 people living in the Thailand - Cambodia border area were evacuated as fighting between the two countries continued to escalate. Of these, there are about 400,000 Thais and 101,000 Cambodians.
This week's clashes are considered much more intense than the 5-day fighting in July that killed dozens of people. At that time, a fragile ceasefire was established thanks to the intervention of US President Donald Trump.
Since the conflict broke out again on December 7, at least 15 people have been killed, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians, according to local officials. This time, the two sides also mobilized fighter jets, tanks and UAVs ( drones).
Thailand and Cambodia both thought that the two sides had fired first, thereby breaking the ceasefire agreement.
Tensions continued to increase on December 10 when Cambodia announced the withdrawal of all athletes from the 33rd SEA Games taking place in Thailand, citing security concerns.
Cambodia's Defense Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said Thailand "attacked haphazardly" residential areas and schools, while asserting that Phnom Penh only targeted military targets. She also called the temple in dispute a shattered land of Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Thailand condemned the missile launch from Cambodia that fell into the vicinity of Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province. The facility was hit by bullets in a fight in July.
Also on December 10, the Royal Thai Air Force deployed a JAS-39 Gripen fighter jet to bomb a Cambodian gambling complex, claiming that the site was used as a location for heavy weapons and suicide UAVs.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said that the war will end with dialogue, but "this is not the time for negotiations".
If any third country wants to act as an intermediary, Thailand cannot accept it at this stage because the boundary has been crossed, Balankura said.
