According to the Thai military, troops in Ubon Ratchathani province had previously come under Cambodian fire. However, the Cambodian Defense Ministry said the Thai military attacked its forces in two locations at dawn. This was preceded by days of provocations. The Cambodian troops did not fire back.
Mutual accusations
Both countries had previously accused each other of violating a ceasefire signed in October. However, Thailand suspended implementation of the agreement in mid-November after a soldier was injured by a landmine. US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim brokered the ceasefire.
The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into a five-day border conflict in July. At least 48 people were killed and an estimated 300,000 were temporarily displaced.
Thailand and Cambodia have disputed sovereignty at unmarked points along their 817-kilometer land border for more than a century. This was mapped by France in 1907 when it ruled Cambodia as a colony. The tensions have repeatedly led to skirmishes, such as a week-long artillery barrage in 2011.
Worth a look
