Cambodian forces fire a BM-21 rocket launcher from their base at Khao Laem on Thursday morning. One of the rockets was said to have landed on the Thai side, striking an area near Ban Tuan in Si Sa Ket province. (Image from video posted by Chumchon Khon Surin Facebook page)
Cambodian soldiers opened fire at a Thai military base in the northeastern province of Surin and launched rockets toward Si Sa Ket on Thursday morning as hostilities in the disputed border area worsened, according to the Royal Thai Army.
Thai soldiers heard a Cambodian drone circling in front of the Ta Muen Thom temple ruins in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin at 7.35am, the army said.
Six Cambodian soldiers then approached a barbed-wire fence in front of the Thai military base, armed with weapons including rocket-propelled grenades.
Thai soldiers at the base shouted to urge their Cambodian counterparts to avoid escalating the conflict.
At 8.20am Cambodia opened fire toward the Moo Pa military base, the 2nd Army Region said on its Facebook page.
The Cambodian forces set up artillery in nearby communities in a manner that used civilians as human shields, the Thai army alleged. Artillery fire was then directed at the temple ruins at 8.50am, it said.
At about 9.15am, Cambodian troops reportedly initiated gunfire, targeting the area near the Moo Pa base. One Thai soldier was injured as gunfire continued.
At 9.40am, Cambodia fired BM-21 rocket launchers at the Don Tuan temple ruins in Si Sa Ket province, Thailand said.
At 9.55am, Cambodian forces reportedly fired into a residential area near the border area development centre in Kap Choeng district of Surin. Authorities began evacuating civilians from the area.
The 2nd Army Region said it was closely monitoring the situation and that updates will follow as more information becomes available.
Vocabulary
- artillery: large powerful guns that are used by an army and are moved on wheels or fixed in one place – ปืนใหญ่
- civilians (noun): people who are not members of the police or armed forces or government agencies – พลเรือน
- counterpart: someone/something who has the same job or purpose as another person or thing, but in a different country, time, situation, or organisation – ผู้ที่ทำงานประเภทเดียวกัน; ผู้ที่อยู่ในตำแหน่งเสมอกัน
- drone (noun): an aircraft (or ship) without a pilot, controlled from the ground – เครื่องบินไร้คนขับที่ควบคุมด้วยวิทยุทางไกล
- evacuate: to force to leave an area – ถูกไล่ที่
- grenade: a small bomb that someone throws or fires from a gun – ลูกระเบิดเล็ก
- human shield: a line or group of people in front of another person or group – ยืนเป็นแนวบ้องกัน
- initiate: to start something or make it start – ริเริ่ม
- ruins: the remains of a building that has been badly damaged or destroyed – ซากปรักหักพัง
- weapon: an object such as a knife, gun, bomb, etc. that is used for fighting or attacking somebody – อาวุธ
