SA KAEO, Thailand – Intense fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces entered its fourth day in Sa Kaeo province Thursday as one more Thai soldier was killed by a Cambodian mortar round during fierce fighting in the Ta Phraya district.
Thai forces secured Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, Khok Sung district, but Cambodian forces continued retaliating, firing over 20 BM-21 rockets into the area, damaging civilian property.
Separately, the Royal Thai Air Force used F-16 jets to strike and heavily damage the Cambodian Border Defence Platoon 503 headquarters opposite Ban Nong Chan.
At the Khlong Luek border crossing, hundreds of Cambodian nationals sought to return home, following the departure of 7,100 people on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Thai security forces are preparing for the return of more than 6,000 Thai nationals from Poipet, Cambodia, who registered with the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh citing safety fears. Immigration police are screening all returnees, including those with expired documentation and those sought under arrest warrants.
In a related incident, police detained Ms. Thonglad, the ex-wife of influential Cambodian figure “Kamnan Lee.” She was detained under martial law after appearing in a restricted military border zone and will be questioned regarding suspected intelligence activities for Cambodia. (TNA)
