Phnom penh: Cambodia on Wednesday claimed that its armed forces have captured its "sovereign territory" amid ongoing military clashes with Thailand after the border crisis escalated, local newspaper Khmer Times reported. The Cambodian military, "under the strong and vigorous struggle," captured Ta Krabey Temple and the Mom Bei area along the border, Defense Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata told a news conference.

According to Anadolu Agency, the spokeswoman stated that Cambodia maintains control over these areas and emphasized the significance of capturing the Ta Krabey Temple and Mom Bei area, which she described as sovereign territory. She also mentioned that Cambodia continues to hold the Ta Moan Thom Temple, a site that marked the beginning of the armed conflict, without retreating.

The development came as Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai condemned Cambodia's attack "without any provocation," resulting in the deaths of 10 civilians and one Thai soldier, while injuring 28 others, as reported by Thai PBS. Phumtham expressed his commitment to protecting Thailand's sovereignty, accusing Cambodian forces of unprovoked assaults in the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Sisaket, and Surin.

Phumtham highlighted the use of heavy weapons by Cambodian forces, which led to retaliatory actions by Thai forces. He clarified that Thailand has not declared war on Cambodia, describing the situation as armed clashes instead. He called for an end to the conflict before any bilateral talks, insisting that fighting must cease before negotiations can occur.

Thai jets conducted fresh strikes against Cambodian targets in the evening, local time. Meanwhile, Cambodia has not disclosed any information about casualties on their side. The latest clash followed an incident where a Thai soldier lost his leg in a landmine explosion. Both sides have given differing accounts regarding who initiated the fire on Thursday.

In light of escalating tensions, Cambodia has sought "urgent" intervention by the UN Security Council. The tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have led to the downgrading of diplomatic ties to the lowest level in decades, following incidents since May 28, when troops exchanged fire near the border, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.