Thailand warns Cambodia fighting could turn into ‘war’, declares martial law in border areas

Thailand declared martial law along parts of its border on Friday after a second day of fierce clashes with Cambodia, which have sparked warnings of a slide into a wider war. So far, at least 16 people have died, and around 138,000 individuals have been displaced.

Apichart Sapprasert, commander of the military’s Border Defense Command in the provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat, said in a statement “martial law is now in effect” in seven districts of Chanthaburi and one district of Trat.

Cambodia reported that at least one civilian has been killed on its side, but has not revealed any military losses.

Both sides blame each other for triggering the violence at multiple points along their shared border, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet calling Bangkok’s action “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate” in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, which will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the violence.

Meanwhile, Thailand has accused Cambodia of initiating the conflict and of indiscriminately targeting civilians with rocket fire deep into Thai territory that struck homes, a gas station and a hospital in Surin province.