Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet posted on social media today (July 24) stating, "Thai military launched an attack on Cambodian military positions."

Hun Manet stated, "Cambodia has always adhered to the position of resolving issues through peaceful means, but in this case, Cambodia has no choice but to respond with force. The Cambodian government will defend national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the highest national interests through military and diplomatic measures, and provide assistance to citizens affected by the conflict."

Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen also posted on social media, accusing "Thailand first attacked Cambodia," saying "the Cambodian army had no choice but to retaliate out of necessity."

Cambodia and Thailand experienced gunfire today in the disputed border area between the two countries. Both sides accused each other of opening fire first. According to a statement from the Thai military, the Cambodian army opened fire near the disputed Damnoen Saduak Temple area. It is reported that before deploying troops equipped with heavy weapons to the area, Cambodia had already deployed drones. According to local Thai officials who spoke to the media, the shooting by the Cambodian army has resulted in two Thai civilians killed and two injured.

Recently, tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border have escalated due to border disputes. At the beginning of this month, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn was suspended from her post over related issues. Recently, the diplomatic relations between the two countries have been downgraded, with both countries recalling their ambassadors and expelling the other's ambassador. The trigger for the downgrade in diplomatic relations was a Thai claim that "a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine on the Thai-Cambodian border on July 23." Previously, there had been incidents where Thai soldiers were injured by landmines on the border. Thailand accused Cambodia of planting landmines in the border area, while Cambodia denied it.

Senator Chairman Hun Sen said the border was shelled by Thailand

Cambodian Senate Chairman Hun Sen said on social media on the 24th that the border areas of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces in Cambodia were shelled by Thailand.

Hun Sen said that Thai soldiers began attacking the Cambodian army, and the Cambodian army had no choice but to retaliate. He urged the public not to panic, not to stockpile goods, and called on merchants not to raise prices of goods.

On the same day, Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, Maris Chhutda, said in a statement, "The Thai military first launched an armed attack on the Cambodian military, and the Cambodian military acted strictly within the scope of self-defense," which is a response to the unprovoked infringement of Cambodian territory by the Thai military.

The Royal Thai Army said on the 24th that on the morning of that day, after the Cambodian side opened fire first in the border area, a conflict occurred between the two sides, and one Thai soldier was injured.

Spontaneous fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, details disclosed

On July 24, Colonel Lichatcha, a deputy spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army, stated that after the mine incident, the commander of the second military region responsible for the Thai-Cambodian border, Phonsin, ordered the closure of two disputed temples and another four checkpoints on July 23. At 7:25 a.m. on July 24, local time, Thai soldiers discovered a Cambodian drone flying near the disputed temple. At 8:20 a.m. local time, Cambodian soldiers fired at the Thai side of the checkpoint at Taman Temple. Thai soldiers responded with counterfire.

Some Thai media reports on the event process stated that at 7:35 a.m. on July 24, when Thai soldiers were setting up barbed wire around the disputed temple, Cambodian soldiers objected. Thai soldiers stated that they had informed Cambodia to close the temple. Subsequently, Cambodian soldiers set up weapons near the temple, and six fully armed Cambodian soldiers approached the barbed wire set up by the Thais, prompting immediate increased vigilance by the Thai soldiers.

Subsequently, at 8:20 a.m., Cambodian soldiers fired at the Thai side of the Taman Temple checkpoint, and the Thai soldiers retaliated with counterfire.

The Royal Thai Army stated that at 9:40 a.m. local time on July 24, two BM21 rockets fired by the Cambodian army hit a civilian community in Kaphueng district of Surin province in Thailand, causing three civilians to be injured.

Sources | @CCTV International News, Xinhua News Agency, Special Correspondent of Global Times Sun Guangyong

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7530522571461247523/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the 【Like/Dislike】 button below.