ISTANBUL

At least eight Cambodian civilians and five soldiers were killed in cross-border fighting with Thailand, the Cambodian Defense Ministry said Saturday.

Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata told a news conference in Phnom Penh that 21 Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) personnel and at least 50 civilians were also injured during heavy cross-border artillery fire, which began Thursday, the Khmer Times reported.

A total of 35,829 Cambodian civilians have been displaced from high-risk areas in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Pursat provinces.

Thailand has reported 15 fatalities, including one soldier, during the clashes, which reportedly continued for a third straight day. Thousands of Thai people have also been displaced due to the clashes.

Thailand deployed fighter jets while Cambodia launched rockets in the clashes, with the two nations accusing each other of initiating the gunfire.

The Southeast Asian neighbors have a border dispute along Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand, which has renewed tensions since May 28 when a Cambodian soldier was killed.