Thai and Cambodian troops exchange fire at a controversial border

Troops from Thailand and Cambodia have encountered a controversial part of their border early on Thursday, with the two sides being blamed for the first shot.

The Thai military said Cambodian soldiers had opened fire near the Kmer Homer Tap, where tension has increased high in recent weeks.

However, the Cambodia Ministry of Defense said its soldiers responded to self -defense after Thai troops fired the first shots.

Cambodia had sent a drone for observation in the area before deploying highly armed troops, Thai military said, adding that at least two Thai soldiers were injured.

A spokesman for the Cambodia Ministry of Defense Mali said that their troops “exercised their right to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity against the aggression of Thai troops.

The allegation stated that Thailand “has violated Cambodia’s territorial integrity.”

Parts of two provinces in Cambodia were summarized by the Thai military, former leader Hun Sung said on Facebook, calling for people not to panic.

“Cambodia has always maintained a position to seek the problems calmly, but in this case we have no choice but to answer armed force against armed aggression,” Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Facebook.

Thailand Prime Minister Phumham Wechayachai said his dispute with Cambodia remains “delicate” and must be addressed carefully and in accordance with international law.

The clash on Thursday comes a day after Thailand recalled his ambassador to Cambodia after an explosion of Mines, which wound a Thai soldier along the border.

On Wednesday, Bangkok also said he would expel the ambassador of Cambodia.

The bilateral relations between the two countries have been in their worst case for more than a decade after the armed clashes left a Cambodian soldier dead in May.

Over the last two months, both sides have imposed restrictions on Tit-Tat and an increased presence of troops along the border.

Additional reporting from May Titara in pnom Penh