"Geopolitan powder barrel explosion: Thai F-16 hits targets in Cambodia in border clash"

The long-term border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia intensified rapidly at night, with reports that a Thai F-16 fighter carried out air-ground attacks on multiple military positions Cambodia close the disputed border region.

Reuters reports that Thailand has prepared six F-16 fighters, but only 1 has deployed along the disputed border. The F-16s conducted military raids in Cambodia. Both Southeast Asian countries accuse each another of starting a conflict.

A deputy spokesperson for the Thai army Rich Suksuwanon had previously told journalists: "We utilized air force against military targets as planned".

In consequence to the attacks, the Ministry of Defence of Cambodia stated that "it powerfully condemns the reckless and violent military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Here are more details through Bloomberg:

Both Southeast Asian countries have accused each another of starting clashes that took place in six places and have been the consequence of an increase in tension since the death of the Cambodian soldier in the fire exchange in May.

Thailand reported, citing provincial authorities, that its fighters hit 2 military bases on Thursday Cambodia close the border while the Thai army reported, citing provincial authorities that rockets launched from Cambodia killed respective civilians. Among the fatalities is an 8-year-old kid and 14 another people were injured. The number of victims on the Cambodian side remains unclear.

"The dispute escalates rapidly and can become a serious conflict if left unattended" – said Jayant Menon, a elder student at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, quoted by Bloomberg.

For over a 100 years Thailand and Cambodia argued over claims of sovereignty along part of their common land border of 508 miles in length. Boundary ambiguities arise from the treaties of the colonial era and inconsistent mapping practices dating back to the French-Siamian Agreement of 1907. A notable skirmish from 2011 lasted a week and ended with many fatalities.

Deepening the conflict could jeopardise ASEAN diplomacy and undermine assurance between associate States. On the 1 hand, Cambodia is simply a close ally of Beijing, while Thailand traditionally maintains strong ties with the United States. This escalation is developing in the face of ongoing tensions between China and the US.

On the Thai markets, the baht and shares fell on the news of the clashes, as news of the conflict increases the force on the economy, which is already under force to impose a 36 percent work on American exports.

Meanwhile, respective unresolved border disputes stay in the region, including between Myanmar and Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, and Vietnam and China (especially in the South China Sea). The war between Thailand and Cambodia can spill and ignite another inflamed points throughout the ASEAN area.

Menon noted: "Although conflict is improbable to spread beyond both countries, will disrupt trade and people's movement, which will negatively affect the regional economy".

Translated by Google Translator

source|:https://www.zerohedge.com/