BANGKOK -- Armed clashes have broken out between Thailand and Cambodia in long-disputed border areas, rapidly escalating months-long tensions.

Thailand's navy has joined its army in fighting Cambodian forces on a new front in a disputed border region, as the death toll from the escalating ar

"The U.S. already flunked the test and that should be a wakeup call," a former senior U.S. State Department official told Newsweek.

On Thursday, violence broke out on the border between Thailand and Cambodia as long-simmering tensions between the two nations imploded.

The first clash on Thursday morning took place near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, the AP reported.

SISAKET, Thailand/WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to meet immediately to quickly work out a ceasefire, as he sought to broker peace after three days of fighting along their border.

SISAKET, Thailand / WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump said today that the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to meet immediately to quickly work out a ceasefire, as he sought to broker peace after three days of fighting along their border.

A war-like situation has erupted between Thailand and Cambodia, with military strikes targeting key locations and resulting in at least 12 deaths, dozens wounded, and mass evacuations. At the heart of this violent escalation lies the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple,