On the 8th, Thailand’s 2nd Army Region issued a statement on social media, clarifying the timeline of the new round of clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border, and stated that about 70% of residents in four provinces on the Thai side of the border have completed evacuation.
In its statement on Facebook, the 2nd Army Region said that since intermittent fighting broke out between the two sides in the afternoon of the 7th, Thai forces detected the Cambodian side deploying rocket launchers and other fire support weapons near the border from 10pm on the 7th to the early hours of the 8th, while also beginning to evacuate Cambodian civilians from border areas. Starting at 5am on the 8th, Cambodian soldiers fired light weapons at Thai troops in the Chong An Ma area, and Thai forces responded with light weapons according to rules of engagement. At 8am, Cambodia used BM21 rocket launchers to fire at residential areas in Ban Kua, Buri Ram Province, Thailand.
The statement also reported on the evacuation of civilians in four Thai border provinces: about 70% of residents in Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani have completed evacuation, with roughly 35,000 people registered at temporary shelters. It is speculated that those not yet in shelters are staying temporarily at relatives' homes or are still in the process of transferring. During the evacuation, one civilian unfortunately died due to illness.
The 2nd Army Region reminded all relevant agencies to raise security alert levels and reinforce the security of key government buildings and facilities to prevent and thwart any hostile attempts to endanger the safety of life and property.
In addition, Thai Prime Minister Srettha canceled his previously planned visit to the Thai-Cambodian border on the 8th, and held an emergency meeting at the Government House that morning.