Doha: The death toll from the ongoing armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand has surged to 33 fatalities since fighting erupted on Thursday, according to the latest figures released by both sides. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence put out a statement on Saturday confirming that 13 people were killed and 71 others wounded, with the Thai military reporting that the number of fatalities in Thailand had risen to 20, including 14 civilians.
According to Qatar News Agency, both sides acknowledged fresh exchanges of fire early Saturday morning, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing five heavy artillery shells at multiple locations in Pursat province, along the contentious border zone. In a sharp escalation, Cambodia's UN envoy, Ambassador Chhea Keo, called for an immediate ceasefire to put an end to the clashes, now raging for a third straight day.
The fighting stems from a long-running border dispute along the 817-kilometer frontier between the two nations, creating a flashpoint for repeated violence. A brief skirmish on May 28, triggered by alleged treaty violations, was followed by a temporary truce.
During that time, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that his government had formally submitted a request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to weigh in on its border disputes with Thailand, a move aimed at resolving the crisis through international legal channels.