A Cambodian soldier was fatally wounded on Wednesday during a brief but intense exchange of gunfire with Thai forces along the disputed border region, according to a spokesman for the Cambodian army. This incident marks a rare fatality amid the historically sensitive frontier zone that has long been a source of tension between the two nations.
Cambodian Royal Army spokesman Mao Phalla confirmed the death and noted that there were additional injuries, although precise numbers have not yet been disclosed. "One of our soldiers died during the fight, and there were some injuries, but we don't have detailed figures yet," Phalla said.
The Royal Thai Army issued a statement indicating that the clash originated when Cambodian troops opened fire near Thailand's eastern Ubon Ratchathani province. Thai soldiers returned fire in response, resulting in exchanges lasting about 10 minutes before Cambodian forces requested a ceasefire.
Phalla maintained that the Cambodian troops were on routine border patrol in northern Preah Vihear province, which borders Ubon Ratchathani, and asserted that Thai soldiers initiated the attack. "Our soldiers died in the trenches. The Thais came to attack us," he stated.
The border between Cambodia and Thailand has been a source of contention for years, notably in 2008 when violent clashes over territory near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple led to at least 28 deaths. The dispute centers on land adjacent to the ancient Khmer temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The International Court of Justice eventually ruled that the contested area belongs to Cambodia, but intermittent skirmishes have continued.
This latest incident underscores the enduring volatility of the border area despite diplomatic efforts to maintain peace.
