PHNOM PENH — Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said that the Thai forces continued their attacks on Cambodia on July 27, firing shells into the country from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.  This took place a few hours after U.S. President Donald Trump called to appeal for a ceasefire and Thailand agreed in principle to a truce.

In a press briefing on July 27, Lieutenant-General Maly Socheata said that the Thai forces had fired artillery shells into the Veal Entry Valley in Preah Vihear province at 2 a.m., and had conducted attacks in the Ta Thav area and at Phnom Khmaoch Mountain at 2:30 a.m.

At 4:50 a.m., they opened heavy-artillery fire on the Ta Moan Thom Temple and the Ta Krabei Temple, Socheata said. Then at 6 a.m., they continued their ground attack at Thnom Khmaoch Mountain, she said.

On July 26, Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai during which he urged both countries to halt the armed clashes, making it clear that the U.S. will not enter into any trade deals with either country if the conflict persists.

Following the conversation, Prime Minister Hun Manet accepted Trump’s proposed ceasefire, questioning the Thais’ sincerity, while Phumtham Wechayachai said “Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place. However, Thailand would like to see sincere intentions from the Cambodian side.”

According to Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn has been assigned to work with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to facilitate discussions with Thailand in order to implement the agreed-upon ceasefire and end the fighting.

On July 26, Thai forces opened fire at 5 a.m. in Pursat province. On the same day, they dropped two bombs on the road ascending to the Preah Vihear temple, deployed cluster bombs at Phnom Khmaoch Mountain, and attacked with tanks in the Veal Entry Valley, according to Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Maly Socheata.

During the United Nations Security Council meeting on July 25, Cambodia urged the U.N. Security Council to intervene in the escalating armed conflict with Thailand, requesting an immediate ceasefire, a U.N. fact-finding mission, and that the ongoing border dispute be referred to the International Court of Justice.

During the press briefing in Phnom Penh, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Chum Sounry said that Cambodia rejected the Thai accusation that the country had attacked Thailand’s civilians and hospitals as the Thai government plans to send a formal letter to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, accusing Cambodia of having breached international humanitarian law.

“I strongly reject this baseless accusation,” Chum Sounry said. “I would like to reiterate that Cambodia has strictly adhered to its position to avoid armed attack on civilians, which is in line with the Geneva Convention and the International Humanitarian Law.”

As of July 27, the number of Cambodian evacuees had soared from around 35,000 to more than 250,000, according to Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense. So far, five Cambodian soldiers have been killed and 21 injured, while eight civilians were killed and 50 wounded.