• Salah Abdullah Al-attar - Editor-in-Chief

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Cambodia Announces 13 Killed in Border Clashes with Thailand..

Initial Casualty Report (Cambodian Side):
Cambodia announced its first official death toll from Saturday morning's clashes with Thai forces, reporting:

  • 13 fatalities (5 Royal Cambodian Armed Forces personnel, 8 civilians)

  • 21 soldiers wounded

  • ≥50 civilians injured (moderate to severe)

Humanitarian Crisis:
Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Souchita confirmed:

  • 35,829 civilians evacuated from high-risk zones in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Pursat provinces

  • Thai forces accused of violating international humanitarian law, including:
    • Indiscriminate attacks on civilians
    • Shelling of villages and religious sites
    • Use of cluster munitions

Thai Counterclaims:
Acting Thai PM Phumtham Wechayachai reported:

  • ≥20 Thai civilian deaths (total bilateral fatalities now ≥33)

  • Martial law imposed in affected border areas

Regional Evacuations:

  • Thailand has evacuated >100,000 civilians from Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Buri Ram provinces

Military Escalation (Day 3):

  • Unprecedented combat intensity (heaviest in over a decade)

  • Both sides deploying:
    • Warplanes
    • Heavy artillery
    • Sustained cross-border fire

Diplomatic Breakdown:

  • Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh

  • Expelled Cambodian envoy

  • Dispute over alleged recent landmine deployments (Thai claim vs. Cambodian denial)

Historical Context:
The conflict centers on the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple complex:

  • 1962 ICJ ruling granted temple sovereignty to Cambodia

  • Thailand maintains claims to adjacent territory

  • Previous major clashes occurred during 2008-2011

Current Stalemate:
ASEAN's ceasefire proposal (led by Malaysia) remains unheeded as:

  • Military buildups continue

  • Regional calls for restraint intensify

  • Fighting persists across multiple frontline positions