Renewed clashes have left four Thai soldiers and 61 Cambodian troops dead as border fighting intensified.

Fresh skirmishes flared up this week as both nations accused each other of sparking violence along disputed frontier areas.

In a statement on December 9, the 2nd Army Area Operations Centre said four Thai soldiers had been killed and 68 wounded.

The 2nd Army Area said: 'Overall situation from 09:00 to 17:00 hours today, Cambodian forces launched heavy attacks against our side. The clashes expanded widely and intensified, involving approximately 125 times of BM-21 multiple-rocket launcher strikes around with 5,000 rockets and 33 suicide drones targeting our bases and defensive positions across several fronts, particularly in the Chong An-Ma and Chong Bok areas of Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thieng Ta Mok in Sisaket Province, Chong Khana and Ta Kwai Temple areas in Surin Province.

'Our forces responded with direct-fire weapons, indirect-fire weapons, tanks and attack aircraft continuously striking designated targets. The situation remains active at this time.

'Due to the heavy engagements throughout the period, our side has lost four brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the operations, and a total of 68 were injured. Cambodian forces suffered 61 fatalities, with the number of wounded yet to be assessed.

'The 2nd Army Area will continue to implement all necessary measures to maintain security and safeguard the sovereignty of the country to the fullest extent.'

Thailand and Cambodia traded blame over the territorial clashes that erupted on Monday.

Dictator and former Khmer Rouge henchman Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia since 1985, claimed that his troops had 'shown restraint'.

Thailand and Cambodia have been fighting for more than a century over several undemarcated sections of their 817-kilometre (508-mile) border, which was originally mapped by France in 1907 while Cambodia was still its protectorate.

But tensions flared in the long-disputed frontier as both accused each other of instigating violence on July 24, which killed at least 48 and temporarily displaced some 300,000 on both sides of the border.

Cambodia claimed responsibility for the alleged war crime of firing rockets into Thailand that struck a gas station, killing a number of children.

The two nations have reached a shaky truce following talks facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

But the peace deal, brokered by US President Donald Trump, fell through as Thailand accused Cambodia of laying fresh landmines that have maimed soldiers along the disputed frontier.