BUDDHIST BATTLEFIELD

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THAILAND AND CAMBODIA'S DEADLY BORDER DISPUTE

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Evacuees at a shelter in the Chang International Circuit racecourse in Buri Ram, Thailand, on Dec 11.

Deadly military clashes at the border between Thailand and Cambodia this week have driven half-a-million people to evacuate their homes in a sharp escalation of a long-running territorial dispute.

The bitter conflict between the two nations stemming from a disputed colonial-era demarcation of their 800km frontier has drawn the attention of US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pledged to broker peace.

Here's what we know about the conflict.

The border row has dragged on for decades, but the most recent fighting between the two countries began with a brief skirmish last Sunday that left two Thai soldiers wounded.

Both sides claimed the other initiated an attack, with Cambodia maintaining on Sunday and Monday that it had not retaliated.

Fighting escalated on Monday when Thailand launched air strikes against Cambodian military targets, and Phnom Penh later said it retaliated that evening.