Thailand-Cambodia conflict: Clashes intensify with heavy weapons and coastal battles

On the fourth day of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, conflict continued to spread along the two countries' shared border. (Janes)

Conflict between Thailand and Cambodia continued at a high tempo on 11 December, the fourth full day of renewed fighting between the two Southeast Asian neighbours.

A spokesperson for Thailand's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a media briefing in Bangkok that the conflict is ongoing across several flashpoints along a 600 km stretch of the border between Thailand's northeast and southeastern corner.

“[The conflict] is not decreasing [in tempo] at all,” the spokesperson said in response to questions from the media.

“We are conducting our operations based on proportionality and the right to self-defence. The Thai military services are working together in co-ordination, in joint operations, in order to repel aggressions from the Cambodian armed forces.”

Cambodia's Ministry of National Defence (MND) similarly described intense operations.

An MND spokesperson said the Thai military had deployed in front lines assets including main battle tanks, fighter aircraft, artillery platforms firing 105 mm and 155 mm munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions, as well as a “large number of troops”.

Earlier in the conflict Thai border provinces including Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, and Surin were cited as key battlegrounds. On 11 December other Thai provinces – including Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi as well as areas off the coast of Trat – were identified as conflict zones.

Cambodia's MND indicated that fighting is the fiercest in its border provinces of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and Oddar Meanchey.

According to the Thai MoD spokesperson, the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) deployed in these conflict zones equipment including the BM-21 Grad 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL), mortar systems, and loitering munitions.