The Thai military announced on Monday that it had begun airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia after both nations accused the other of violating a cease-fire deal mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Thailand's military stated in a statement that when its troops came under fire from Cambodia, new fighting broke out near two locations in the easternmost province of Ubon Ratchathani, resulting in at least one Thai soldier's death and four injuries.
"The Thai side has now begun using aircraft to strike military targets in several areas," claimed the statement. Following days of provocative acts, the Thai military launched dawn attacks on Cambodian forces at two locations, according to a statement from the country's defense ministry.
The statement also stated that Cambodian troops had not reacted. The army of Thailand reported that the military of Cambodia had fired BM-21 rockets into residential areas in Thailand, although no casualties were reported.
Prior to a ceasefire accord mediated by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who also saw the signing of an enlarged peace treaty between the two nations in Kuala Lumpur in October, the border dispute had escalated into a five-day skirmish in July.
During the July confrontations, the neighbors exchanged rockets and heavy artillery fire, resulting in at least 48 deaths and an estimated 300,000 temporary displacements.
Thailand announced it was stopping the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Cambodia after one of its soldiers was injured by a landmine blast last month.
Hun Sen, the father of current premier Hun Manet and a powerful previous longstanding leader of Cambodia, called Thailand's military "aggressors" hoping to incite a counterattack and encouraged Cambodian forces to use patience.
"The red line for answering has already been established. Without providing further details, Hun Sen posted on Facebook, "I urge commanders at all levels to educate all officers and soldiers accordingly."
According to the Thai military, nearly 35,000 of the more than 385,000 residents being evacuated across four border districts are already being accommodated in makeshift shelters.
The 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border between Thailand and Cambodia was first drawn in 1907 when France held Cambodia as a colony.
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have fought for sovereignty at unmarked locations along this border. Despite efforts to settle conflicting claims amicably, simmering animosity has occasionally erupted into clashes, like a week-long artillery exchange in 2011.
