(Bangkok/New York, 27th Comprehensive Report) A border military conflict has broken out between Thailand and Cambodia, and neighboring Laos has become an innocent victim, with 10 shells landing within Laotian territory. The Thai military claims the shells were fired by Cambodia, while Cambodia refutes the accusation.
The Special Operations Unit of the Champasak Province of Laos issued a statement saying that during the exchanges of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces on July 24 and 25, 10 shells landed within Laotian territory, but it remains unclear which side fired them.
On Saturday (26th), the Thai military released a statement expressing regret over shells landing in Laos, which caused damage to local facilities and civilian property. The Thai military said that after cooperating with Laos to investigate, it confirmed that the shells were not from Thai military weapons, but were fired by Cambodian forces.
According to Thailand's The Nation newspaper, the Thai military also condemned the Cambodian military for not following international rules during the exchanges and said that over the past two days, Cambodian forces repeatedly attacked several non-military targets, including historic monuments, with long-range weapons. Thai military spokesperson Colonel Winthai accused the Cambodian military of deliberately firing shells into Laos to frame the Thai army and damage Thailand's international image.
Cambodian Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Marie Souchhetta refuted the Thai military's accusations at a press conference on Saturday, emphasizing that the Cambodian counterattack only targeted Thai military bases. Xinhua News Agency quoted Marie Souchhetta as saying: "The Laotian authorities have not yet made any accusations or launched an investigation into this matter, while the Thai side has already made its allegations."
On Saturday, reports briefly circulated that Laotian troops in Champasak Province engaged in fierce firefights with a number of illegally trespassing Cambodian armed personnel near the border with Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani Province, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons. However, Laotian military sources later told Xinhua News this information was false; the authoritative military media in Laos, People's Army Newspaper, also said it had not received any related reports.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency closed-door meeting on Friday (25th) regarding the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, where both sides accused the other of provoking the conflict.
Thailand's Permanent Representative to the UN, Kittiphong, said that Thailand is committed to resolving the dispute through peaceful means under the UN Charter and has actively engaged with the Cambodian side through bilateral mechanisms over the past two months. However, he said, Cambodia avoided meaningful dialogue and attempted to internationalize the issue for political purposes. Thailand urged Cambodia to immediately stop all hostile and aggressive actions and to resume sincere dialogue.
Cambodia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Sia Khuoch, said that the unrest at the Thai-Cambodian border was caused by "unprovoked and illegal armed aggression" by Thailand. He emphasized that prior to Thailand's offensive, the Cambodian side had not taken any hostile actions or deployed troops at the border. He said that Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets and tanks, and extensively used cluster munitions and heavy weapons, which clearly demonstrated aggressive intentions.
Sia Khuoch called on the Security Council to intervene and have the Thai-Cambodian border conflict adjudicated by the International Court of Justice. He told the media after the meeting that Cambodia was demanding an immediate unconditional ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
The Special Operations Unit of the Champasak Province of Laos issued a statement saying that during the exchanges of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces on July 24 and 25, 10 shells landed within Laotian territory, but it remains unclear which side fired them.
On Saturday (26th), the Thai military released a statement expressing regret over shells landing in Laos, which caused damage to local facilities and civilian property. The Thai military said that after cooperating with Laos to investigate, it confirmed that the shells were not from Thai military weapons, but were fired by Cambodian forces.
According to Thailand's The Nation newspaper, the Thai military also condemned the Cambodian military for not following international rules during the exchanges and said that over the past two days, Cambodian forces repeatedly attacked several non-military targets, including historic monuments, with long-range weapons. Thai military spokesperson Colonel Winthai accused the Cambodian military of deliberately firing shells into Laos to frame the Thai army and damage Thailand's international image.
Cambodian Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Marie Souchhetta refuted the Thai military's accusations at a press conference on Saturday, emphasizing that the Cambodian counterattack only targeted Thai military bases. Xinhua News Agency quoted Marie Souchhetta as saying: "The Laotian authorities have not yet made any accusations or launched an investigation into this matter, while the Thai side has already made its allegations."
On Saturday, reports briefly circulated that Laotian troops in Champasak Province engaged in fierce firefights with a number of illegally trespassing Cambodian armed personnel near the border with Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani Province, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons. However, Laotian military sources later told Xinhua News this information was false; the authoritative military media in Laos, People's Army Newspaper, also said it had not received any related reports.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency closed-door meeting on Friday (25th) regarding the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, where both sides accused the other of provoking the conflict.
Thailand's Permanent Representative to the UN, Kittiphong, said that Thailand is committed to resolving the dispute through peaceful means under the UN Charter and has actively engaged with the Cambodian side through bilateral mechanisms over the past two months. However, he said, Cambodia avoided meaningful dialogue and attempted to internationalize the issue for political purposes. Thailand urged Cambodia to immediately stop all hostile and aggressive actions and to resume sincere dialogue.
Cambodia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Sia Khuoch, said that the unrest at the Thai-Cambodian border was caused by "unprovoked and illegal armed aggression" by Thailand. He emphasized that prior to Thailand's offensive, the Cambodian side had not taken any hostile actions or deployed troops at the border. He said that Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets and tanks, and extensively used cluster munitions and heavy weapons, which clearly demonstrated aggressive intentions.
Sia Khuoch called on the Security Council to intervene and have the Thai-Cambodian border conflict adjudicated by the International Court of Justice. He told the media after the meeting that Cambodia was demanding an immediate unconditional ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris said on Saturday that before a ceasefire or peace talks can begin, Cambodia must first show genuine willingness to end the conflict.