The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has deployed a precision guided munition (PGM), or smart bomb, in its attack on the O-Jik Bridge in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, to cut a supply route to the Ta Kwai ancient ruins and Mount 350 in Phanom Dong Rak district of Thailand’s Surin province.
The RTAF spokesman, Air Marshal Chakkrit Thammavichai, said today that an F-16 fighter jet dropped a guided weapon on the bridge, which was damaged to the extent that it cannot be used by cars or trucks to transport supplies to front-line Cambodian forces at Mount 350.
He said that pedestrians and motorcyclists can still use the bridge, because the Thai military does not want to completely disrupt the lives of the civilian population. He warned, however, that if it is discovered that the bridge is being used to transport supplies to the front-line again, the RTAF will completely destroy it.
“This is to apply pressure and signal to the elites in the Cambodian government that the Thai military will not stop. We will continue with our military operations until Cambodia accepts our ceasefire pre-conditions and future peace talks,” said Air Marshal Chakkrit.
Lt-Gen Weerayuth Raksilp, commander of the Second Army Region, praised two fallen soldiers today, Sgt-Maj. Samroeng Klangprakone and Pvt. Phanupat Saosa, for their bravery and sacrifice in saving the lives of their comrades in the fierce battle to regain control of Mount 350 from Cambodian soldiers.
He said that he has ordered troops to exercise extreme caution in their attempt to retrieve the bodies, as the area where they were killed is heavily mined.
Lt-Gen Weerayuth was on the frontline at Mount 350 today, to supervise military operations. The strategic hill-top position is now controlled by Thai troops.
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN), meanwhile, said today that its Marines have regained control of Ban Tha Sen in Muang district of Trat province from Cambodian forces.
RTN Spokesman Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaipan said that a casino there had been used by Cambodian troops as a command centre from which to launch drone attacks against Thai Marines, adding that Ban Tha Sen was seized without any losses on the Thai side.
