Thai soldiers destroyed a stairway to block Cambodian forces from accessing a strategic border hilltop.

Troops bombed the Chong Khan Ma stairway, cutting off the country's access to the disputed Phu Makua area. Officials claimed they had since occupied the area.

Aerial footage released by the Thai army on Sunday shows smoke rising from the destroyed stairway surrounded by dense forests.

Thai forces also destroyed a cable car and dismantled its base, further obstructing passage to the summit.

The escalating military confrontation - the bloodiest in more than a decade - flared in long-disputed border areas as Thailand and Cambodia accused each other of instigating the violence on July 24.

The Thai army claimed the clash began when six armed Cambodian soldiers approached a Thai outpost after a drone was heard near a disputed Khmer temple. Thai troops said they shouted warnings and claimed the Cambodians opened fire first.

However, Cambodia's Defence Ministry accused Thailand of provoking the violence, saying its forces acted in self-defence.

Officials said at least 43 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced on both sides of the border.

Both sides reached a truce at midnight on July 28, following talks facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). However, skirmishes have continued.

President Trump had earlier threatened to pause trade deals with both countries if clashes continued.

He said after the ceasefire was forged: 'By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives ... I have now ended many Wars in just six months — I am proud to be the President of PEACE!'