Fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border has reportedly persisted despite United States President Donald Trump's claim that Thai and Cambodian leaders have agreed to renew a truce.
Cambodia says Thai forces, including fighter jets, continue to strike targets across their disputed border in the hours after Trump posted on social media that both parties have agreed to a ceasefire.
"Thai forces have not stopped the bombing yet and are still continuing the bombing," the Cambodian Ministry of Information said on Saturday.
Thailand's military countered with accusations that Cambodia was committing "repeated violations of international rules" by targeting civilian locations and laying landmines.
Trump announced the agreement to restart the ceasefire on Friday following calls with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
But neither leader referenced an agreement in statements after the call, and Anutin said there was no ceasefire. When asked about Trump's claim, Thailand's foreign ministry referred reporters to his statement.
A Thai soldier patrols on a motorbike next to a convoy of armoured military vehicles near the frontline of clashes in Kab Choeng district, Surin province, Thailand. Source: EPA / Rungroj Yongrit
However, Manet said he advised the US and Malaysia to use their intelligence gathering capabilities to "verify which side fired first" in the latest round of fighting.
The original ceasefire in July was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. It was formalised in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that Trump attended.
Despite the deal, the two countries carried on a bitter propaganda war and minor cross-border violence continued.
Since Monday, Cambodia and Thailand have been firing rockets and artillery at multiple points along their disputed 817-km border, in some of the heaviest fighting since the five-day clash in July, which Trump halted with calls to both leaders.
Historical tensions
The roots of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict lie in a history of enmity over competing territorial claims. These claims largely stem from a 1907 map created while Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand maintains is inaccurate.
Tensions were exacerbated by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded sovereignty to Cambodia, which still riles many Thais.
Thailand has deployed jet fighters to carry out airstrikes on what it says are military targets. Cambodia has deployed BM-21 rocket launchers with a range of 30-40km.
According to data collected by public broadcaster ThaiPBS, at least six of the Thai soldiers who were killed were hit by rocket shrapnel.
Trump has repeatedly made the exaggerated claim that he has helped solve eight conflicts, including the one between Thailand and Cambodia, since returning to office in January, as evidence of his negotiating prowess. And he's not been shy about his desire to be recognised with a Nobel Peace Prize.
In an exchange with reporters on Wednesday, he expressed confidence that he could get the two sides back to a truce.
"Every once in a while," Trump said, "one will flame up again and I have to put out that little flame".
— Reporting by the Associated Press and Reuters via the Australian Associated Press
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