Thailand warns Cambodia border fighting could turn into ‘war’ amid mass exodus

Thailand’s acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Friday warned that the military conflict with Cambodia, which has displaced more than 100,000 people “could develop into war”, as rival troops exchanged gunfire along their disputed border for a second day.

A weeks-long stand-off erupted into open conflict on Thursday, with Thailand using F-16 fighter jets to strike targets inside Cambodia while salvoes of Russian-made rockets hit Thai territory, killing at least 15 Thais.

Both sides blamed each other for triggering the violence along at least six spots on their shared border, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet calling Bangkok’s action “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate” in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, which will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the violence.

Meanwhile, Thailand on Friday accused Cambodia of striking first and targeting civilians, including in a hospital in Surin province. The health ministry said 14 people and a soldier had died so far.

The Thai interior ministry said about 138,000 people from four border provinces had been evacuated to temporary shelters.

Renewed clashes took place early on Friday, according to Thailand’s military.