Tensions prevail amid uneasy calm along Thai-Cambodia border

Tensions remain high along the Thai-Cambodia border following recent deadly clashes near the Ta Muen Thom Temple area, but no fresh fighting was reported Friday.

Thailand's military intelligence claimed to have killed at least 24 Cambodians, mostly soldiers, in airstrikes and artillery shelling, though Cambodian authorities have yet to confirmed this.

According to Thailand’s Second Army Region security unit, the casualties occurred between Thursday and Friday morning during attacks that also destroyed three 100-millimeter mortars, Thai media outlet Khaosod English reported.

However, Anadolu could not independently verify the claim.

Cambodian officials said Friday that a monk was killed and five civilians injured in Thai artillery shelling in Oddar Meanchey Province.

On Thursday, the Thai Health Ministry said at least 14 people were killed, including a child, after day-long airstrikes and rocket firing between Thailand and Cambodia, but officials claim the border situation has “calmed down.”

The reported calm along the border comes as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke to his Thai and Cambodian counterparts Phumtham Wechayachai and Hun Manet, respectively, urging the warring sides to declare an "immediate ceasefire."

In the wake of the attacks, there was displacement of people on both sides of the border.

The two sides also closed schools.

The latest clash occurred a day after a Thai soldier lost his leg in a landmine explosion.

Thailand’s military accused Cambodian troops of firing at a Thai army base in an area near the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple, which lies in disputed territory in the south of Thailand’s Surin province.

Cambodia and Thailand have downgraded diplomatic ties to their lowest level in decades after tensions between the two countries began rising since May 28, when troops exchanged fire near the border, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

The two Southeast Asian neighbors have a disputed border lying across Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand.