Thailand and Cambodia pounded each other with heavy artillery fire for a third day on Saturday, as a border conflict that killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 from their homes spread across the frontier.
Clashes broke out for the first time in the countries鈥� coastal regions where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand, around 250 kilometres southwest of the main frontlines thumping with blasts on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides say they are open to a truce in the combat being fought with jets, tanks and ground troops, but have accused the other of undermining armistice efforts.
Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites before fighting spread along the countries鈥� rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice.
Cambodia鈥檚 defence ministry said 13 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting since Thursday, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded.
Thai authorities say 13 civilians and seven soldiers have been killed on their side, taking the toll across both nations higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011.
Both sides reported a coastline clash around 5:00am Saturday, 2200 GMT Friday, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing 鈥榝ive heavy artillery shells鈥� into Pursat province, bordering Thailand鈥檚 Trat province.
The conflict has also forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand鈥檚 border regions, and more than 35,000 driven from their homes in Cambodia.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump said Saturday he was talking with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand in a bid to end their border conflict that has left at least 33 people dead.
鈥楯ust spoke to the prime minister of Cambodia relative to stopping the War with Thailand,鈥� Trump, who is on a visit to Scotland, said in a post on his Truth Social network.
鈥業 have just spoken to the acting prime minister of Thailand, and it was a very good conversation,鈥� he said soon after in a new post.
鈥楾hailand, like Cambodia, wants to have an immediate Ceasefire, and Peace,鈥� he added.
鈥業 am now going to relay that message back to the Prime Minister of Cambodia. After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!鈥�
After an urgent UN Security Council meeting in New York on Friday, Cambodia鈥檚 UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire.
Thai foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa said Saturday that for any ceasefire or talks to proceed, Cambodia needed to show 鈥榞enuine sincerity in ending the conflict鈥�.
Thai foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said Friday, before the UN meeting was held, that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.
Malaysia currently holds the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members.
Both sides have blamed the other for firing first.
Additionally, Cambodia has accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station struck by at least one rocket.
The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbours鈥攂oth popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists鈥攐ver their shared 800-kilometre border where dozens of kilometres are contested.
A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for more than a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash on the border.
