Cambodia’s Defence Ministry announced that Thailand utilized F-16 fighter jets to drop approximately 40 bombs on a village in the northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties, the ministry indicated that homes and infrastructure were damaged.
Thailand’s military acknowledged the offensive, stating that a coordinated army-air force operation was necessary to safeguard Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, which shares a border with Banteay Meanchey where both nations have conflicting territorial claims.
The longstanding territorial disputes along the border are the underlying cause of tensions that escalated into open conflict in late July. Mediation efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, along with pressure from US President Donald Trump, allowed the two parties to agree on a fragile ceasefire after five days of fighting.
Each side claims that its current military actions are defensive and accuses the other of violating the ceasefire.
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“If Cambodia does not demonstrate sincerity regarding the ceasefire, peace will be unattainable, and Thailand will have no option but to pursue full-scale military operations to protect its sovereignty,” said Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai, a representative of Thailand’s air force, on Friday.
Military representatives from both nations continued a third day of discussions through their already established General Border Committee at a checkpoint between Cambodia’s Pailin province and Thailand’s Chanthaburi province.
The committee’s meeting is expected to conclude on Saturday, when defence ministers from both Thailand and Cambodia are anticipated to join and formalize an agreement.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned on Friday that Thailand expects Cambodia to consent to a 72-hour ceasefire, and if successfully enacted, Thailand would consider repatriating Cambodian prisoners of war, a significant request.
According to officials, Thailand has suffered the loss of 26 soldiers and one civilian as a direct consequence of the fighting since December 7. Additionally, Thailand has documented 44 civilian fatalities due to indirect effects of the situation. Cambodia has not provided an official count of military casualties, but states that 30 civilians have died and 90 have been injured.
Hundreds of thousands of individuals have been evacuated from affected regions on both sides of the border.
Trump spoke with the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers via phone on December 12, claiming on social media that they had agreed to renew their ceasefire. However, Anutin refuted this assertion, and hostilities continued.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated this week in a call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet that Washington is ready “to facilitate discussions to ensure peace and stability” between Cambodia and Thailand, according to the US State Department.
Also read: Thailand works to repatriate thousands stranded at Cambodia border crossing
Amidst the conflict, Thai media reported the rescue of five malnourished wild animals — a male lion, a lioness, a sun bear, and two Asiatic black bears — from a casino allegedly functioning as a Cambodian military stronghold captured by Thai marines on Sunday.
The animals were sedated and transported to wildlife breeding centers in Thailand, as stated by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to The Associated Press on Friday. Upon arriving at their new homes just in time for Christmas, the lioness was named “Merry” and the lion “Christmas” to celebrate their rescue.
