Thai Forces Suffer Heavy Losses as Cambodian Military Officials Reject “Psychological Warfare” Claims

Thai Forces Suffer Heavy Losses as Cambodian Military Officials Reject “Psychological Warfare” Claims

Cambodian defence officials say Thai military units suffered heavy casualties during recent border clashes, rejecting as “psychological warfare” a Thai Second Army Region report that claimed 61 Cambodian soldiers were killed on December 9.

A senior Cambodian military official told Khmer Times that Thai forces had taken “significant losses,” saying: “Few hundred Thai soldiers were killed and more than a thousand injured,” though he did not provide specific figures.

He dismissed the Thai Army Region 2 statement — circulated by Khaosod English — as fabricated and designed to mislead the Thai public. “This is fake news from the Thai Second Army Area,” he said.

According to the Thai report, Cambodian forces suffered heavy casualties in several areas along the border. Cambodian officials, however, rejected the figures as baseless. The official added that the Ministry of National Defence does not respond to invented numbers.

“Thai army no need to count on Cambodia side but count on your soldiers properly,” he said.

He criticised the Thai military for releasing what he described as distorted information. “Don’t lie to your own people and don’t forget to collect your soldiers’ corpses,” he said.

The official reiterated that Cambodia has not violated Thai territory and is acting strictly in defence of its sovereignty and its people.

“Cambodia does not invade any country’s territory, but acts in self-defence to protect our land and innocent civilians,” he said.

The Ministry of National Defence has confirmed seven civilian deaths and 20 others injured in attacks attributed to Thai indiscriminate artillery and airstrikes.

-Khmer Times-