July 24 (UPI) — Cambodia and Thailand exchanged attacks Thursday morning along their disputed border as tensions between the two countries that had been rising over the past few days turned violent.

The Thai military said at least three of its civilians and a soldier were injured.

Both sides have accused one another of firing first near the ancient Ta Muen Temple, located along the disputed Thai-Cambodia border.

The Royal Thai Army accused Cambodian forces in a statement of having opened fire at 8:20 a.m. local time. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense laid blame on Thai soldiers, saying they initiated a “direct attack against Cambodian forces” stationed near the temple.

The ministry said in a statement that Thai forces opened fire at 8:46 a.m., leaving the Cambodian forces “no choice but to exercise their right to self-defense.”

Since then, continued military clashes have been reported.

At least three Thai citizens were injured when two BM-21 rockets launched by Cambodia hit a community area within the Border Development Center in Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, at 9:40 a.m. local time, the Royal Thai Army said in a statement.

It published images of the aftermath online, showing a wooden building with shattered windows and a pool of blood on the ground.

It said residents had been evacuated from the area.

Thailand’s 2nd Regional Military Command reported on Facebook that there were “clashes happening all along the front lines” involving “both small guns and heavy weapons.”

“One Thai soldier has been injured,” it said.

The Thai military has deployed F-16 fighter jets, which the military command said had “destroyed” a Cambodian brigade.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Thai warplanes had dropped bombs near where Cambodian troops were stationed.

It accused Thailand of using heavy weaponry and a large-scale deployment of troops to “forcibly seize Cambodian territory.” It alleged that Thailand was violating the United Nations Charter as well as international law.

Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Manet, said in a statement on Facebook that Thai troops had launched attacks targeting Cambodian military positions at Prasat Ta Moan Thom and Prasat Ta Krabey and were expanding their assault.

“Cambodia has always maintained a position of resolving conflicts through peaceful means. However, in this case, we have no choice but to respond with armed force against this military aggression,” he said.

About two hours later, he published a letter addressed to the acting chairman of the United Nations’ Security Council demanding immediate intervention to “end the Thai army’s aggression on Cambodia’s sovereign territory.”

The fighting began Thursday after members of the Thai task force reported hearing sounds of a Cambodian drone circling the temple, which was followed by six Cambodian soldiers, armed with weapons, including RPGs, approaching a barbed-wire area near a Thai operations base.

“Thai forces employed verbal negotiations through loudspeakers to avoid conflict and prevent escalation of the situation while maintaining vigilance along the entire border line in preparation for any developments,” the Royal Thai Army said in a statement.

The Cambodian Ministry of Defense accused the Thai forces of having violated previous agreements between their countries by “occupying” the temple.

The two sides have battled for decades over disputed regions of their shared border, but tensions have been spiking since Wednesday, when five Thai soldiers were injured, including one who lost a leg, due to a landmine within the Thai-Cambodia border region.

Thailand responded by closing all border crossing points between the two countries and tourist attractions in the border region.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense has denied the allegations of wrongdoing.

“Cambodia has repeatedly reminded the Thai side that these areas still contain landmines that are war remnants that have yet to be cleared and has urged the Thai side to avoid practicing contradictory use of roadways for patrolling,” it said in a statement.

“It is extremely saddening that the Thai side not only holds responsibility for its aggression and also accuses Cambodia of violation International law, but Cambodia itself is the unjust victim of Thai law violation.”