Around 100,000 people have fled clashes along Thailand’s border as Cambodia was accused on Friday of launching renewed rocket barrages and rival troops exchanged gunfire in a crisis that has left at least 15 Thais dead.
A weeks-long stand-off erupted into open conflict on Thursday, with Thailand using F-16 fighter jets to strike targets inside Cambodia while salvoes of Russian-made rockets hit Thai territory.
Both sides blamed each other for triggering the violence along at least six spots on their shared border, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet calling Bangkok’s action “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate” in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, which will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the violence.
Meanwhile, Thailand on Friday accused Cambodia of striking first and targeting civilians, including in a hospital in Surin province. The health ministry said 15 people, including a soldier, had died so far.
According to the Thai interior ministry, more than 100,000 people from four border provinces had been evacuated to temporary shelters.
Cambodia is yet to issue an official casualty report from its side.
