The battles broke out on July 24 in the morning at six places on the border between the Thai state of Surin and the Cambodian Oddar Meanchey. It is unclear who first opened fire. The government in Phnom Penh claims that clashes were provoked by Thailand's soldiers, who began to approach the temple contrary to the arrangements made.
The Cambodian Army fired missiles from the Grad launcher. According to Thailand, these missiles hit civilian targets, gas station and hospital.
Much more powerful Bangkok military forces sent drones and F-16 fighters that hit targets in Cambodia. On both sides, artillery thundered. On July 25, Thailand's Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that the clashes were already taking place in 12 places at the border and could lead to a war between the 2 countries.
The following morning a fresh front was formed in the coastal state of Trat, over 100 km away. According to a government message in Bangkok, Cambodian troops entered the region in 3 locations. The action was launched by the Thai Navy – 4 patrol ships and a marine that repelled the enemy's attacks. At least 32 people were killed during the 3 days of the fight, and dozens were injured. According to the Ministry of Defence in Phnom Penh on the Cambodian side, 13 people were killed, including 8 civilians. Thailand's losses are 19 killed, including 13 civilians.
Over 138,000 people were evacuated from the border regions of Thailand – 35 1000 from Cambodia. Chianuwat Thalalai, an worker of a Thai hotel in Sisaket Province, said: “Almost everyone has left, the city is empty.”
100-year conflict
The Emerald Triangle conflict lasts over 100 years. It was caused by French colonists, who in 1904, set a boundary between the independent Siam (present Thailand) and Cambodia which was part of the French Indochin. The treaty that was then concluded may have shown that the temples belonged to Siam. But on the map that the colonists handed over to the Siamian authorities 3 years later, the shrines were on the Cambodian side. In 1962 and again in 2013, the global Court of Justice ruled that the temples were Cambodian territory. In 2008 and 2011, there was a clash about Preah Vihear, which authorities in Phnom Penh have included on the UNESCO planet Heritage List despite Bangkok's objections. In May this year, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish. Tension increased, both sides reinforced military troops in the Emerald Triangle.
Cambodia has excellent relations with China, Thailand is an ally of the United States, although it besides cares about maintaining relationship with Beijing. It seems that the current border conflict will not turn into a replacement war of superpowers due to the fact that both the US and China are working to end it.
