The Thai government, in a letter to the United Nations dated 25/7, stated, "At 8:20 a.m. on 24/7, Cambodian soldiers opened fire on a Thai military base in Ta Moan Thom, killing two Thai soldiers. Cambodia then expanded military operations to civilian areas in the four provinces of Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, and Ubon Ratchathani".

The letter detailed that the Cambodian military actions resulted in the deaths of 11 Thai civilians and injuries to 24 others, with eight seriously wounded. Over 102,000 people were displaced, and significant damage was inflicted on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and public facilities.

This letter was likely drafted before the Thai Ministry of Health announced the revised death toll, which had risen to 15.

A fire at a gas station in Sisaket province, Thailand, after the 24/7 attack. Photo: AFP

A fire at a gas station in Sisaket province, Thailand, after the 24/7 attack. Photo: AFP

Thai officials accused Cambodia of "attacking civilians, hospitals, and public facilities, violating the 1949 Geneva Convention, which provides protection for medical facilities, the wounded, and the sick".

Thailand also accused Cambodia of possessing PMN-2 anti-personnel mines, "violating their obligations under the Ottawa Treaty, which bans these weapons". The mines allegedly injured two Thai soldiers patrolling the border. Bangkok stated that it had destroyed its entire stockpile of anti-personnel mines in 2003 and reported this to the UN.

Thailand declared that it had "exercised maximum restraint" and that its military actions were "legitimate self-defense, deployed in a limited and targeted manner to respond to the threat from the Cambodian military".

"We reaffirm our strong commitment to resolving disputes peacefully and reject the use of force in international conflicts," the letter stated. "We call on Cambodia to cease hostile actions and return to sincere negotiations".

Thailand confirmed its readiness to participate in existing bilateral negotiation mechanisms, such as the Joint Border Committee of the two countries, scheduled to meet in September, to address the remaining territorial disputes.

Cambodia has not commented on the Thai letter. However, Cambodian media previously accused Thailand of using F-16 fighter jets to attack civilian targets. Bangkok denied this accusation, asserting that it only targeted military objectives.

A Cambodian local official today reported at least one civilian death and five injuries during the clashes with Thailand.

Previously, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet sent a letter to the UN Security Council requesting an emergency meeting following the border clashes. Hun Manet stated that Thailand had launched an "armed attack" on several areas of Cambodia and that Cambodian forces acted in "self-defense to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Location of Ta Muan Thom temple and other disputed temples between Cambodia and Thailand. Graphic: CNA

Location of Ta Muan Thom temple and other disputed temples between Cambodia and Thailand. Graphic: CNA

Hun Manet urged Thailand to "immediately cease all hostile actions, withdraw troops, and refrain from further provocations". He also accused Thailand of "unilaterally redrawing the map" to "justify baseless accusations" related to a recent mine explosion that escalated tensions.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency closed-door meeting on the afternoon of 25/7 (early morning of 26/7 Hanoi time) to discuss the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, according to AFP sources.

Tensions between the two countries have been escalating since 23/7, when Thai officials accused Cambodia of planting mines in the disputed border area where clashes occurred in May, injuring a Thai soldier.

Bangkok subsequently expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own ambassador, announcing a downgrade in diplomatic relations. The Cambodian government reciprocated, declaring a downgrade of relations with Thailand to the "lowest level" and recalling its diplomats from Bangkok.

Clashes between Cambodia and Thailand erupted near the Ta Moan Thom temple on the morning of 24/7 and then spread to other areas along the border. The fighting intensified with the deployment of heavy weapons by both Cambodian and Thai forces.

Nguyen Tien (According to Nation, AP, AFP, Khmer Times)