Fresh border clashes mar Cambodia-Thailand military talks

Renewed military clashes have broken out along the border between Cambodia and Thailand, casting a shadow over planned high-level military talks aimed at de-escalation. The fighting, reported by both sides on Wednesday, resulted in additional civilian injuries and fatalities amidst a dispute that has already displaced nearly one million people.

Accusations and shelling incidents

According to Cambodian media, Thai forces fired shells into the Poipet area and Banteay Meanchey province, injuring at least two civilians. Cambodia's Defense Ministry also claimed its forces responded with BM-21 rocket fire near the Preah Vihear Temple. Thailand, for its part, stated its troops targeted and destroyed two buildings in Poipet allegedly used by scammers to store munitions.

Diplomatic friction and scheduled committee meeting

The clashes occurred as the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) was scheduled to convene for its first meeting since violence flared up on December 7. In a separate development, the Royal Thai Army publicly rejected a Cambodian report accusing Thailand of environmental crimes, calling it a "serious distortion of facts" on social media.

Mounting human cost of the conflict

The human toll of the border conflict continues to rise. Thai authorities reported 23 soldiers and one civilian killed, with 33 other civilian deaths attributed to collateral effects. Cambodia's Interior Ministry stated 21 of its civilians have been killed and 83 injured. The ongoing violence underscores the urgent need for a diplomatic breakthrough to halt the humanitarian crisis.