Cambodia closes border with Thailand amid ongoing fighting

Bangkok, Dec 13, (dpa/GNA) – Cambodia has closed its border with Thailand, as the two neighbouring countries continue to exchange fire despite US efforts to conclude a ceasefire.

The border closure applies to all entry and exit points, effective immediately, a Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesman said on Saturday, justifying the move with the protection of the country.

Fighting between the two countries along their shared border is now in its sixth consecutive day.

Following a call with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday, US President Donald Trump said the two leaders had agreed to stop fighting. However, neither Thailand nor Cambodia confirmed the agreement.

On Saturday morning, both countries accused each other of attacking civilian areas.

“Thai forces have not stopped the bombing yet and are still continuing the bombing,” Cambodia’s Defence Ministry said in a post on Facebook.

The Thai military wrote on X that Cambodia fired rockets into civilian areas in Sisaket province, injuring four civilians.

Anutin said military action would continue “until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people.”

The violence relates to a decades-old dispute between the South-East Asian neighbours over territorial claims.

Each side accused the other of first violating a previously agreed ceasefire along the roughly 800-kilometre frontier.

The clashes have displaced more than 500,000 residents and killed more than 20 people, including several civilians, with hundreds more wounded, officials say.
GNA