Cambodia on Monday(December 23) accused Thailand of launching air strikes on its territory just hours after ASEAN-led talks aimed at easing deadly border clashes, according to an AFP report.

Phnom Penh said Thai fighter jets bombed areas in Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces, while Thailand countered that its air force responded after Cambodian forces fired dozens of rockets into Thai territory. Renewed fighting this month has killed at least 43 people on both sides and displaced more than 900,000 civilians, officials said.

The accusations came shortly after Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow announced that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to hold bilateral talks this week following an ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur. However, he cautioned that a ceasefire would depend on concrete actions rather than declarations.

ASEAN chair Malaysia urged both sides to give the crisis “urgent attention,” warning of wider regional consequences if the violence continues. The long-running conflict stems from a colonial-era border dispute involving ancient temple sites along the frontier.

BOB Post