Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to hold talks by phone with US President Donald Trump at 9.20pm local time to discuss the border conflict with Cambodia, as fighting rages for the sixth consecutive day today.
Anutin said that he expects to update Trump on the latest developments in the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, adding that he will attend a briefing from the military about the situation on the ground before his call with the US president and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as the ASEAN chair.
Meanwhile, the operations centre of the Second Army Region reported that Cambodian reinforcements were pouring into border areas throughout the last night, as occasional exchanges of gun and heavy-weapons fire erupted.
The fiercest fighting, which started at 6am this morning, was concentrated in Chong Bok, Chong Anh Ma, Phanom Prasitthiso, Khao Santasom, Huai Ta Maria, Phu Makua, Plarn Hin Paet Korn, Khana, Ta Muen Thom, and Ta Kwai in Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Buriram provinces.
The spokespersons for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) expressed their condolences to the family of Sgt Patchara Yamtaeng-on today, a member of the Lop Buri-based Special Forces, who was killed at the Mount 677 hilltop outpost at Chong Anh Ma, Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani yesterday.
According to ISOC, Patchara was serving as a frontline radio operator when he was hit by artillery fire, which killed him instantly.
He became the 10th army fatality since the fighting broke out on Sunday.
The ‘Army Military Force’ website posted a short video today of the K5 Bridge in Cambodia, opposite Ban Nong Chan in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, showing it being hit and destroyed by three artillery rounds fired by Thai soldiers.
The bridge was part of a logistics route, used by Cambodian forces to deliver supplies to their frontline troops.
