Cambodia opens new battle front, attacking Thai military positions in Trat

The Thai Navy has launched counter-attacks against Cambodian forces, after Cambodia opened a new battle front by attacking three targets in the eastern province of Trat, where there is no border dispute.

At about 5.10am, according to the RTN, Cambodian forces launched artillery attacks against Thai military positions in Ban Chamrak, Trat province, as they tried to enter Thai territory at three locations, forcing the RTN to retaliate.

The invading Cambodian forces were forced to retreat after a fierce battle, which lasted about half an hour.

On Friday, the Chanthaburi-Trat Territorial Defence Command imposed martial law in eight districts of Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, with immediate effect, to protect Thai sovereignty and public safety.

Thai security sources had predicted that Cambodian forces were poised to attack the Trat border province and had ordered the evacuation of people from three districts to safer locations.

The sources said that the Cambodians had pointed their artillery towards the Muang district of Trat, about 40km away, while the artillery in Koh Kong were aimed at Klong Yai district, which is only 11km from the border.

Kittipong Yula-or, the mayor of Nong Samet sub-district in Bo Rai district, said that he had instructed officials temporarily to confiscate all cellphones from Cambodian workers taking refuge in an evacuation shelter and to cut communication signals there as a precautionary measure.

Today, the Thai military also provided an update on the battleground situation and casualties on the Thai side.

Six Thai soldiers and 13 Thai civilians have been killed, while 29 soldiers and 46 civilians have been injured in two days of fighting against Cambodian forces.

Fighting continues to rage in eight locations along the shared border, from Ubon Ratchathani through Surin, Si Sa Ket and Buri Ram provinces.