BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, July 25 (V7N) – Military tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have rapidly escalated, with both countries blaming each other for initiating a border clash that has resulted in civilian casualties. Thailand responded by deploying an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia on Thursday after artillery volleys exchanged between the two sides left at least 11 civilians and 1 Soldier dead.

The fighting, which began in the early hours of Thursday, quickly intensified from small arms fire to heavy shelling at multiple locations along a disputed stretch of the 817 km (508-mile) border. This area has been the source of a long-standing territorial dispute between the two Southeast Asian nations.

Thailand's military, which positioned six F-16 fighter jets along the border, used one of them to strike a Cambodian military target. Cambodia condemned the airstrike as "reckless and brutal military aggression" and warned that it violated international law. The Thai government, in turn, stated that the use of air power was a measured response aimed at striking targets with precision.

This marks the worst fighting between the two countries in 13 years, exacerbated by Thailand's decision on Wednesday to recall its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expel Cambodia’s envoy in retaliation for an alleged landmine incident. Thailand claims that its soldiers were injured by landmines recently planted by Cambodian troops, an accusation Cambodia has denied as unfounded.

The United States, a treaty ally of Thailand, expressed grave concern over the violence, urging an immediate cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution. "We are deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians," said Tommy Pigott, the State Department’s deputy spokesperson.

The casualty toll has been severe, with Thailand reporting at least 12 deaths, including an eight-year-old child, and 31 others wounded. The exact number of Cambodian casualties remains unclear, but both countries are bracing for further escalation. Thailand's Health Minister condemned the use of heavy artillery as "a war crime" following an attack on a hospital in Surin province, Thailand, that left several civilians injured.

In the face of growing violence, over 40,000 people from Thai border areas have been evacuated to temporary shelters, where many residents, including children, are living in fear of further bombardment. "My children are scared and crying," said Suphap Wongwai, an evacuee in Surin province.

The conflict is rooted in decades-old disputes, notably over the ownership of ancient Hindu temples like Ta Moan Thom and the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, but the area remains contentious, particularly after Cambodia's 2008 push to have the temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which reignited skirmishes along the border.

Thailand’s use of an F-16 fighter jet underscores its military superiority in the region, with a larger and more advanced defense force than Cambodia’s. As tensions grow, neighboring countries like the Philippines and Vietnam have called for restraint, while China has expressed a willingness to mediate and promote de-escalation efforts.

Both sides are now engaged in an information war, with Cambodia urging the United Nations Security Council to take action against what it terms "unprovoked and premeditated military aggression" by Thailand. Thailand, meanwhile, asserts that it was compelled to defend itself from provocation and is committed to resolving the issue peacefully through dialogue.

The ongoing clashes have drawn attention from the international community, with hopes for a diplomatic solution growing increasingly urgent as the violence continues.

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