Thailand–Cambodia border clashes continue ahead of military talks

Thailand and Cambodia both reported fresh clashes on Wednesday, as the two sides prepared to hold military talks aimed at easing tensions along their shared border.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said Thai forces fired two artillery shells into the border town of Poipet, followed by a further shell in Banteay Meanchey province, injuring two civilians, according to the Khmer Times.

The reports came as the two militaries were due to hold their first talks since renewed fighting began on 7 December.

Cambodian officials also said Thai troops fired near the Preah Vihear Temple and an area known as Ghost Mountain, while Cambodian forces responded with BM-21 rocket fire.

Thailand’s public broadcaster Thai PBS reported that Thai troops destroyed two buildings in Poipet on Tuesday, alleging they were used to house scam operations and store munitions.

Thai forces also noted clashes continued on Wednesday at three locations along the Sa Kaeo border, according to the Nation news website.

Separately, the Royal Thai Army said on Wednesday that Cambodian accusations of environmental crimes committed by Thailand were a "serious distortion of facts". The statement was published on the army’s official Facebook account.

A meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee was scheduled for Wednesday.

Thai authorities said 23 Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed in the fighting, adding that another 33 civilians died as “collateral effects of the situation.”

Cambodia’s interior ministry claimed 21 Cambodian civilians had been killed and 83 injured.

Nearly one million people have been displaced on both sides of the border since the clashes began, according to officials.

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