Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia reached boiling point this week as artillery fire and military strikes erupted along their disputed border, prompting urgent calls for peace from the UN Security Council. 💥 Both sides reported civilian casualties, with over 138,000 people evacuated from Thai border towns and at least 16 fatalities confirmed.
Cambodia’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo demanded an "immediate ceasefire" Friday after days of clashes involving tanks, jets, and rocket systems. Thailand signaled openness to talks, possibly mediated by Malaysia, which chairs ASEAN. 🤝 The regional bloc includes both nations, but diplomatic solutions remain elusive as accusations fly over who triggered the violence.
"We’re hearing artillery fire non-stop," one Cambodian provincial official told reporters, describing scenes of families fleeing under military escort. Thailand’s health ministry confirmed 15 deaths on its side, mostly civilians caught in crossfire. 😢
While fighting eased slightly by Friday afternoon, the UN urged "maximum restraint" – a plea echoed globally as social media fills with videos of smoke-covered border villages. 📹 For now, displaced residents wait nervously, hoping diplomacy can douse the flames. 🔥
