Border battle expands

Thailand, Cambodia clash for second day

- REUTERS

A fierce border battle between Thailand and Cambodia raged for a second day and spread to new fronts Tuesday, as both countries accused each other of shelling civilian areas and Bangkok vowed to push on with its planned military operations.

With the neighbours trading blame for starting Monday’s renewed clashes, it was unclear how or if a fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump in July could be salvaged.

Thailand’s military said its tanks fired shells into a border casino complex being used by Cambodia’s army as a firing position and weapons storage area, while fighter jets conducted air strikes for a second day on what the air force said were strategic military targets.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said its troops had no choice but to take defensive action Tuesday and accused Thailand of “indiscriminately and brutally targeting civilian residential areas” with artillery shells, allegations Bangkok rejected.

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