June, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was then-prime minister of Thailand, made a call to Cambodia’s de facto leader, Hun Sen, to address a recent escalation along the border between the two countries that had left a Cambodian soldier dead.

A personal feud between two of Southeast Asia’s political titans is inflaming the worst violence on the border in more than a decade.

Cambodian President Hun Sen has denied reports claiming he fled to China amid an escalating war with Thailand. Thai media alleged Sen abandoned the country as border clashes intensified, but he refuted the claims,

The tank screeches as it rolls into the ad-hoc military base before four battle-weary soldiers jump out to re-inspect the hefty vehicle.

Military skirmishes erupted between Thailand and Cambodia in what is being described as the worst conflict between the two Southeast Asian countries in a decade. More than 150,000 people have been evacuated on both sides with 33 dead in the clashes so far.

The two nations have been locked in a decades-long conflict over their contested border. Tensions in disputed territories soured earlier this year.

A border crisis has plunged Thailand back into political instability, in part because Cambodia’s ex-leader is stirring up trouble for domestic gain.

In a statement posted on social media, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) claimed that Cambodian soldiers opened fire around 8:20am in an area about 200 metres away from disputed Ta Muen Thom temple, which is located on the Thai–Cambodian border. This has led to a barrage of media reports on purported military actions on both sides.

Thailand's foreign ministry said on Friday it was taken aback by an unprecedented public attack on the Thai premier and her family by Cambodia's influential former leader, but stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve an escalating bilateral dispute.

The Royal Thai Army has strongly condemned systematic attacks on Thai civilian targets by Cambodian forces, whilst dismissing claims that Thai troops have seized the disputed Preah Vihear temple as "fake news".