News|ConflictCambodia warns displaced people, tourist hotspots at risk from Thai bombsThailand for the first time targets Siem Reap province, home to Cambodia’s tourist hub Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh says.

Recent military operations conducted by Thailand have involved air strikes near shelters for displaced individuals in Cambodia. These actions have been confirmed by the Cambodian Ministries of National Defence and Information, marking an escalation in hostilities between the neighboring countries.

Thai F-16 fighter jets conducted air raids in the Chong Kal district of Oddar Meanchey province and the Srei Snam district in Siem Reap province. The latter is situated approximately 80 kilometers from Angkor Wat, a significant national and tourist landmark in Cambodia. Cambodian authorities reported that a bridge was targeted during these strikes.

Hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified following a skirmish on December 7, which resulted in injuries to two Thai soldiers and disrupted a previously established ceasefire. The ceasefire, facilitated by the United States, had temporarily halted combat activities in July. The renewed conflict has resulted in over two dozen fatalities and the displacement of more than half a million individuals along the border.

Both nations have confirmed ongoing clashes. Thailand has detailed the impact of its military operations, which reportedly resulted in the destruction of various Cambodian military assets, including tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery systems. Cambodia has responded with rocket fire directed at Thai territory. Casualty reports include 15 Cambodian civilians killed and 73 wounded, while Thailand reported 16 military and civilian fatalities.

Thai officials have indicated efforts to disrupt the supply of fuel and weaponry to Cambodian forces, although they have denied the initiation of a naval blockade.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.