PHNOM PENH - Thai military forces' attack on Cambodia in the 4th Military Region has entered further deep into Cambodian sovereign territory, said the Cambodian Ministry of Defense on Monday.
The Thai military forces have expanded their airstrikes to a location in Northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province, the ministry said in a press release, adding that the Thai military used an F-16 fighter jet to drop two bombs near a displaced civilian camp in the province at 10:00 am on Monday local time.
The fresh border conflict with Thailand has left 12 Cambodian civilians dead and 74 others injured as of 6 pm local time on Sunday, Cambodia's Interior Ministry Spokesperson Touch Sokhak said at a press briefing on Monday.
Meanwhile, the number of displaced persons in Cambodia has exceeded 403,000, including approximately 208,000 women and about 96,000 children, according to the spokesperson.
Cambodian Defense Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said that from Sunday midnight until Monday morning, the Thai military forces continued to fire artillery shells at multiple locations in Cambodian territory.
The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict has reignited since Dec 7, and both sides have accused the other of initiating the attack.
ALSO READ: Thailand says border clashes with Cambodia displace over 400,000 Thai residents
Vietnam expresses concern
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung expressed concern over the complicated developments along the Thailand-Cambodia border during talks with his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow in Thailand on Sunday, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
Trung called on the parties to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and resolve differences by peaceful means, through dialogue, and in accordance with international laws and existing regional agreements and mechanisms, according to the report.
Vietnam stands ready to coordinate with other ASEAN countries, including Thailand, to actively contribute to collective efforts towards long-term regional stability, he stated.
