Border Row Turns Deadly as Thailand, Cambodia Exchange Fire

Asean Chair Anwar Ibrahim Appeals for Immediate Ceasefire, Calls for Dialogue

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BANGKOK - A Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia on July 24, both sides said, as weeks of tension over a border dispute escalated into clashes that killed at least 12 people, including 11 civilians.

Of the six F-16 fighter jets that Thailand has readied to deploy along the disputed border, one of the aircraft fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target, the Thai army said.

Both countries accused each other of starting the clash early on July 24.

"We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesman Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Thailand also closed its border with Cambodia.

Cambodia's Defence Ministry said the jets dropped two bombs on a road, and that it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia".

The Thai military launched a second round of air strikes on the evening of July 24, deploying four F-16 fighter jets to bomb a key Cambodian military command post located south of the Ta Moan Thom temple, The Nation reported.

The skirmishes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia late on July 23 and said it would expel Cambodia's envoy in Bangkok, after a second Thai soldier in the space of a week lost a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently in the disputed area.

Thailand's Health Minister said 11 civilians, including a child, and one soldier were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces, while 24 civilians and seven military personnel were wounded. There was no immediate word of casualties in Cambodia.