Fifth Thai soldier killed as border clashes intensify

The ongoing clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border have claimed the life of a fifth Thai soldier, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes across social media platforms.

The latest casualty was Pvt Therdsak Srilachai, 20, of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, based at Weerawatyothin Camp in Surin province.

He was a native of Ban Phusing in Si Sa Ket’s Phusing district.

Private Therdsak died after sustaining severe shrapnel wounds from a Cambodian BM-21 rocket fired during fighting near Khana Temple in Surin, where Thai troops have been engaged in renewed border hostilities.

He succumbed to his injuries yesterday while receiving treatment at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital.

Thai online platforms have been full of messages of condolence and praise for the young soldier, hailed as a brave serviceman who sacrificed his life in defence of Thai territory.

He had lived with his relatives since childhood, after his parents passed away.

Meanwhile, Thai Air Force F-16 and Gripen fighter jets conducted air strikes today on Cambodian military facilities and scam centres along the border and deeper inside Cambodian territory.

At about 9.59 a.m., the F-16s bombed an arms depot, a maintenance centre and a tank storage facility about 30km inside Cambodian territory, opposite Ban Nong Chan border village in Sa Kaeo province, control of which was seized by Thai troops yesterday.

Separately, at about 11.10 a.m., an F-16 and a Gripen bombed a former casino in O Samet, opposite the Chong Chom border pass in Thailand’s Surin province.

The casino was being used by Cambodian troops as a base from which to launch explosive-laden drones against military targets in Thailand and to store heavy weaponry such as BM-21 multi-rocket systems, according to the Thai Air Force.

The Second Army Region reported today that more than 170,000 Thai people are now taking refuge in 696 temporary shelters in Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Buri Ram provinces.

Additionally, more than 4,000 vulnerable people, including the disabled, the elderly and the sick, have been separately sheltered at 75 locations in the four northeastern provinces directly affected by the escalating fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces.

To ease their stress and boost morale, the army has organised entertainment and recreational activities at the shelters.

The First Army Region reported clashes with Cambodian forces on five fronts in Sa Kaeo today.

In Ban Klong Paeng in Ta Phraya district, Thai and Cambodian forces exchanged occasional artillery and mortar fire, but Thai troops remain in control of the border village and have been reinforcing their positions.

In Ban Nong Ya Kaew in Khok Sung district, Thai troops have been in full control of the village since yesterday and have continued defending it. Periodic exchanges of mortar and artillery fire have been reported.

In Ban Nong Chan in Khok Sung district as well, Thai troops have exchanged mortar and artillery fire with Cambodian forces, while in Ban Klong Luek in Aranyaprathet district, minor clashes involving small arms were reported.

In Klong Hat district, Thai troops fired several artillery rounds at three Cambodian armoured personnel carriers. No reports of damage or casualties from the clashes at the five locations were available at the time of this report.