Schools across Cambodia and Thailand were forced to close on Monday (15 December) as border clashes between the two countries escalated, with the death toll reaching at least 40 and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, according to officials and local media.
Cambodia’s Education Ministry said 1,039 schools in six provinces have shut, affecting 242,881 students and 9,797 teachers, according to local outlet Fresh News.
The Interior Ministry confirmed two more civilian deaths, bringing Cambodia’s civilian toll to 15, with 73 others injured. State media reported that Thai F-16 fighter jets carried out airstrikes inside Cambodian territory.
In Thailand, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said Bangkok formally appealed to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights after nine Thai civilians were killed and more than 600 schools and hospitals were closed. Thai Air Force F-16s also struck Cambodian military positions, with heavy fighting continuing along the frontier, according to the Thai Enquirer.
China expressed concern over the escalation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing is closely monitoring developments and called on both sides to exercise restraint, protect civilians, and work toward a ceasefire.
Officials said roughly 700,000 people have been displaced since fighting intensified last week. Overall, Cambodia reported 15 civilian deaths, while Thailand reported 16 soldiers and nine civilians killed.
The two countries signed a peace agreement in October in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, but the accord was later suspended after Thai soldiers were seriously injured in a landmine explosion. T
he clashes come despite Trump’s statement on Friday that leaders of Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to halt renewed fighting.
Thai authorities said 18 Cambodian soldiers remain in Thai custody following incidents over the past five months.
Thailand and Cambodia have a long-running border dispute that has repeatedly erupted into violence, including clashes in July in which at least 48 people were killed.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened further military action as the Iran war escalates, with Iran reporting 18 people killed and 108 wounded ...
Several Moscow airports suspended the reception and departure of flights overnight, days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russi...
The U.S. Justice Department has warned states they could lose billions of dollars in welfare funding if they fa...
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook steps down as chief executive after 15 years at the helm, handing the technology giant's leadership to longtime executive John Ternus.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 1st September, covering the latest developments.
Several Moscow airports suspended the reception and departure of flights overnight, days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia's airspace was becoming "completely unsafe," due to drones and would "effectively be closing."
The U.S. Justice Department has warned states they could lose billions of dollars in welfare funding if they fail to report immigrants known to state agencies who are in the country illegally.
The Pentagon has introduced mandatory testosterone screening for U.S. military personnel aged 30 and over, with the new policy expected to take effect immediately.
Thousands of residents of Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the government’s handling of a migration crisis that followed a deadly border surge in July.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a one-year ban on the use of artificial intelligence tools by most students in the city’s public elementary and middle schools, as officials seek to limit the technology’s impact on learning and classroom relationships.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment