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Thailand and Cambodia traded accusations of targeting civilians in artillery and rocket attacks, as United States President Donald Trump said he would try to intervene to stop the fighting and salvage a ceasefire he brokered earlier this year.
Clashes raged at more than a dozen locations along their 817km border in some of the most intense fighting since a five-day battle in July, which Trump stopped with calls to both leaders to halt their worst conflict in recent history.
The Southeast Asian neighbours have blamed each other for the clashes that started on Monday.
Trump, at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this week, said he would try to stop the renewed hostilities. On Wednesday, he told reporters he expected to speak with the countries’ leaders on Thursday.
The White House has yet to provide further details regarding the recent communications, leaving many questions unanswered.
“I think I can get them to stop fighting,” Trump said.
“I think I’m scheduled to speak to them tomorrow.”
Thailand’s army has made clear it wants to cripple Cambodia’s military capabilities, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said operations would not stop.
He declined to comment on the military’s endgame. Asked about Trump’s remarks, he said the conflict was a matter between the two countries involved.
Addressing the media, Anutin expressed that while other global leaders might be driven by noble intentions in their quest for peace, the situation remains complex.
“It cannot be as simple as picking up the phone and calling. There must be proper appointment and agreed talking points. We still have time to prepare these issues if such discussions are to take place.”
Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona said Cambodia’s position was that it wanted only peace and had acted in self-defence. A top adviser to Cambodia’s prime minister has signalled the country was ready to negotiate.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who helped Trump broker the ceasefire, said he had spoken with leaders of Thailand and Cambodia on Tuesday and, though no definitive resolution was reached, he appreciated “the openness and willingness of both leaders to continue negotiations in order to ease tensions”.
The ongoing three-day conflict has severely impacted civilians, with official reports from Cambodia confirming the tragic loss of nine lives, including that of a baby, and injuries to 46 others.
Five Thai soldiers had been killed in the fighting, and 68 people were wounded, according to the Thai army.
On Wednesday, Cambodia withdrew its athletes from the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, citing safety reasons and their families’ concerns.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from border areas, though some people have chosen not to leave.
