U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (July 27) he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting.

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

At least eight civilians were killed in attacks in a disputed border area between Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday, according to authorities. Thailand said Cambodian soldiers opened fire on a military base in Surin.