Thailand bombs Cambodian border area as ceasefire talks continue

Thailand carried out air strikes on a disputed border area with Cambodia on Friday, as officials from both sides continued talks to try to end fighting.

The Thai Air Force said it had hit a Cambodian “fortified military position” after civilians had left the area. Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of “indiscriminate attacks” against civilian houses and injuring several people.

Fighting broke out again earlier this month after a fragile ceasefire in July halted five days of intense border clashes.

At least 41 people have been killed and almost one million displaced since the hostilities resumed.

Both countries have blamed each other for the breakdown of the truce.

Since then, fighting has spread to nearly every province along the 500-mile (800km) border.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said Friday’s attacks were in the north-western Banteay Meanchey province. Up to 40 bombs were dropped by F-16 fighter jets, the ministry said in a Facebook post.

Thailand said the action was aimed at controlling Nong Chan village, and was “carried out efficiently and successfully”.

It came as Thai and Cambodian negotiators held their third day of talks at a border checkpoint. Defence ministers from both sides are due to join the discussions on Saturday.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Friday that once both sides agreed to each other’s conditions, a ceasefire agreement could be signed.

“I hope this time will be the last one we’d have to sign, so that peace can occur in the area,” he said, “[and] people can return to their homes.”

The US and China have also been attempting to mediate a new ceasefire.

The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, and there have been sporadic clashes, with soldiers and civilians killed on both sides over the years.

But in May, tensions ramped up after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. And on 24 July, the situation dramatically escalated after a Cambodian rocket barrage into Thailand, which was followed by Thai air strikes. That set off five days of intense fighting, which left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead.