(MENAFN) At least 13 Cambodians, including five soldiers, have been killed in recent clashes with Thailand, the Cambodian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday. According to Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata, heavy cross-border artillery fire that began on Thursday also injured 21 Royal Cambodian Armed Forces personnel and at least 50 civilians.

The fighting has forced 35,829 Cambodian civilians to flee from high-risk areas in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Pursat provinces. Meanwhile, Thailand has confirmed 15 deaths, including one soldier, and thousands of Thai civilians have been displaced as the clashes enter their third consecutive day.

The conflict has involved the use of fighter jets by Thailand and rocket launches by Cambodia, with both countries blaming each other for starting the hostilities. The dispute centers on a contested border area between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province. Tensions escalated following the death of a Cambodian soldier on May 28.

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