Cambodia says Thai bombing hitting deep into its territory

Heavy combat between Thailand and Cambodia entered a second week on Monday, with Phnom Penh claiming that Thai bombing is hitting deeper into its territory, coming close to shelters for people who had already fled dangerous areas along the border.

- MONGKOL BOREY

According to Cambodia's defence and information ministries, Thai F-16 fighter jets dropped two bombs shortly after IO am near camps for displaced people in Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces.

The bombing in Siem Reap's Srei Snam district, more than 70 kilometres inside Cambodian territory, targeted a bridge, Cambodian authorities said. The province is home to the world-famous Angkor Wat temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the country's biggest tourist attraction.

Asked about the attack at a news conference, Thailand's Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai, spokesperson of the air force, offered an oblique confirmation of the bombing.

"According to the international law and the rules of engagement, a military target is not defined based on the distance from the border," he said. "It's actually defined based on the characteristic and objective of the use of that facility for military purposes."

He said Thailand's air force abides by international law by not targeting civilians and that Monday's operation didn't impact Cambodian civilians nearby.