Laos denies reports on border clash with Cambodian forces

It seems clear that it was unclear which side had fired the shells.

VIENTIANE, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A source from the Lao People's Army told Xinhua on Saturday that reports of an exchange of fire between Lao forces and Cambodian armed personnel were untrue.

The Lao People's Army News, the official publication of the Lao military, confirmed that no official reports had been received regarding the incident.

Earlier in the day, some media outlets reported that the Lao military had issued an emergency notice claiming a fierce exchange of fire between Lao forces and Cambodian armed personnel who had allegedly crossed the border illegally. According to these reports, 10 individuals were arrested and weapons were seized, with a screenshot of the purported statement attached.

However, upon verification, the screenshot was found to be from a statement issued on Friday by the Military Special Operations Force of Champasak province of Laos. The statement detailed that during clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces from July 24 to July 25, 10 artillery shells had landed on Laotian territory. The statement also noted that it was unclear which side had fired the shells.

Cambodia on Saturday rejected a report released on the Thai Second Army Area's social media page alleging that some shells that landed on the Laotian territory originated from Cambodia.

"The Laotian authority has not accused or launched an investigation into this case yet, but the Thai side has accused Cambodia," Cambodian defense ministry's undersecretary of state and spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said in a press briefing.

The Cambodian army "has launched counterattacks by focusing only on Thai military bases," she added.

Socheata also refuted Thai media reports that Cambodia has threatened to use long-distance PHL03 missiles to strike Thailand.

Thailand's Second Army Region on Saturday said in a social media post that the shells that landed on Laos during Thai-Cambodian border clashes, as reported by some media outlets, came from the Cambodian forces.

The Thai side expressed its deep regret for the damage to the houses and properties of Lao people, yet after verification and coordination with the Lao side, it was confirmed that the shells did not come from the Thai army but were fired by Cambodian forces, the Thai army said.

Thailand's Channel 7 earlier reported that it was said during the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday morning, 10 artillery shells landed in Laos, damaging civilian houses. Relevant parties are investigating and verifying the source of the cross-border shells.■