Phnom Penh, Dec 9 (NationPress) Early Tuesday saw the tragic loss of two more Cambodian civilians amid the ongoing border conflict with Thailand, escalating the civilian death toll to at least six, as reported by Cambodia's Defence Ministry.

The ministry detailed in a press release that the Thai army persisted in its assaults on Cambodian forces and civilians throughout the night into Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of two Cambodian civilians traveling on the national road.

From 04:45 a.m. on Tuesday, the Thai army renewed its attacks on Cambodia’s Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Pursat provinces.

Just under two months after the signing of a joint peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, violent clashes erupted once more, characterized by artillery fire in multiple regions, prompting residents across several provinces to evacuate. Both nations accused each other of instigating the violence and confirmed casualties, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

On Monday, the Thai Army reported deploying fighter jets in retaliation to attacks from Cambodia that led to the deaths of two soldiers and left four wounded. A Cambodian defense spokesperson noted that Thai troops had fired upon Cambodian forces for a second consecutive day, asserting that Cambodia refrained from returning fire.

As per Thai Army Spokesperson Winthai Suvaree, the incident unfolded around 07:00 a.m. local time in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen District, where Thai soldiers were engaged with “supporting fire weapons,” resulting in five casualties.

This deadly encounter followed an earlier clash in the nearby Chong An Ma area at around 05:05 a.m. local time, where Cambodian troops initiated fire using small arms and indirect weapons, compelling the Thai side to respond in accordance with engagement protocols, stated the Thai Army.

In light of these casualties and what it termed a “direct threat to national security,” the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) confirmed it has begun air operations aimed at Cambodian military infrastructure.

“These actions necessitated the use of air power to deter and minimize Cambodia's military capabilities, ensuring national security and civilian safety,” remarked RTAF Spokesperson Jackkrit Thammavichai.

On the same day, the Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson for Cambodia's Defence Ministry, Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, reported that around 05:04 a.m. on Monday, Thai military forces initiated an attack on Cambodian forces in the An Ses area of Preah Vihear province.

“They subsequently unleashed multiple rounds from tanks at the Tamoan Thom temple, 5 Makara near Preah Vihear temple, and the Chomka Chek area,” she added.

Socheata emphasized that this attack followed a series of provocative actions by Thai forces over several days, particularly the incident at Prorlean Thmar area on Sunday, aimed at inciting conflict.

She asserted that Cambodia “did not retaliate during these two assaults” and continues to monitor the situation with vigilance and utmost caution, adhering to the spirit of “respecting all prior agreements and resolving conflicts peacefully in accordance with international law.”

Furthermore, Cambodia has notified the ASEAN Observer Team regarding this incident and intends to request an investigation by the team, she added.