Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the deployment of nearly 500 troops armed with anti-aircraft weapons at the eastern border after scores of unidentified drones intruded into the Cambodian airspace.
Hun Sen on Wednesday announced a reward of $200,000 for any military unit which was able to shoot down a drone, after several drones entered the province of Mondulkiri on Tuesday night.
The Cambodian leader warned against inaction by the troops, amid claims that the deployed border guards had allowed the illegal drones to intrude into the Cambodian territory.
“…if you do not open fire, you will have a problem with me,” Hun Sen said.
Hun Sen Blames Vietnam-Based ‘Ethnic Insurgent Group’
On Tuesday, Hun Sen released a message blaming the illegal drone flights on an “ethnic insurgent group”.
The Cambodian leader highlighted in his audio message, which was addressed to the defense forces, that Vietnam didn’t have any role to play in the incident.
“Vietnam has no benefit of sending drones to Cambodia without informing Cambodia," Hun Sen said.
“I have concluded that these drones belong to the insurgents who launched the recent attacks on Vietnamese soil. There are now some signs that some of their soldiers were routed and have fled to Cambodian territory,” Hun Sen stated.
According to regional media reports, nine people were left dead in an attack by an ethnic group on two police headquarters’ buildings in Vietnam’s Central Highlands this month.
Vietnamese authorities have described the incident as an act of “terrorism”. They have also claimed that one of the accused terrorists has connections to an American group.