Thailand initiated airstrikes near the contested border with Cambodia on Monday following allegations from both sides of violating a ceasefire that paused previous hostilities earlier this year. A prolonged border disagreement led to a five-day confrontation in July resulting in casualties among soldiers and civilians. In October, U.S. President Donald Trump urged the Southeast Asian nations to agree to a peace deal, but tensions have persisted.
The Thai military reported that over 50,000 individuals evacuated border-adjacent regions for safety, while Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra stated that residents from multiple villages near the border were also relocated. The recent clashes have claimed the life of one Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians, according to officials.
During a televised address, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized the necessity of conducting military operations to safeguard the nation and uphold public security. He clarified that Thailand does not seek violence and has never instigated conflict but will not tolerate any infringement on its sovereignty.
The recent combat ensued following a gunfire exchange on Sunday. The ceasefire faced strain in early November after Thai soldiers suffered injuries from landmines, prompting Thailand to announce the indefinite suspension of the agreement’s implementation. Despite the joint effort to remove landmines, both countries continue to accuse each other of causing the injuries.
In mid-November, Trump intervened to maintain the ceasefire amid escalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. However, a brief skirmish occurred along the border on Sunday, with conflicting reports on who initiated the gunfire. Thai military officials claimed that Cambodian fire wounded two Thai soldiers, leading to a retaliatory response. Cambodia, on the other hand, denied retaliating and asserted that Thai troops fired first.
Thai army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree disclosed that Cambodian troops initiated the attack into Thai territory on multiple fronts, resulting in casualties and civilian evacuations. Thailand utilized aircraft to strike military targets in various locations to counter Cambodian offensive actions.
Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata accused the Thai military of the initial attack on Monday, urging Thailand to cease all hostile activities that jeopardize regional peace and stability. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for restraint and expressed readiness to support initiatives aimed at preventing further escalations.
The historical rivalry between Thailand and Cambodia dates back centuries to their conflicting empires. The contemporary territorial disputes trace back to a disputed 1907 map drawn during French colonial rule in Cambodia, contested by Thailand as inaccurate. The 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice recognized Cambodia’s sovereignty over an area encompassing the ancient Preah Vihear temple, a contentious issue for many Thais.
The ceasefire agreement does not outline a pathway to resolving the fundamental disagreement over the border demarcation.
