The tank screeches as it rolls into the ad-hoc military base before four battle-weary soldiers jump out to re-inspect the hefty vehicle.

The deadly conflict on the Thai-Cambodian border pits a longtime United States ally with decades of experience against a relatively young armed force with close ties to China.

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

The growing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia continued into its third day with new attacks, as fears of war loom. The conflict’s death toll rose substantially on Saturday, with Cambodian authorities reporting 12 new deaths and Thailand one,