Thailand carried out airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia on Monday after both governments accused each other of breaching a fragile ceasefire brokered just two months ago. The renewed clashes have killed at least one Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians and forced mass evacuations on both sides.
The border, long contested and historically volatile, erupted in five days of combat in July before U.S. President Donald Trump pushed both nations to sign a truce in October. Despite that agreement, mine explosions, localized skirmishes and mutual accusations have steadily eroded trust. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said in a televised address that military action will continue “as necessary,” insisting Thailand did not initiate hostilities but must defend its territory.
The army reports that more than 50,000 residents have fled border areas, while Cambodian officials confirm evacuations across several villages. The latest violence followed an exchange of fire on Sunday, with each side claiming the other struck first. Thai military officials say Cambodian forces fired into Thai territory, wounding several Thai soldiers and prompting retaliation. Cambodian spokesperson Maly Socheata countered that Thai forces attacked first and that Cambodia exercised restraint before being bombed.
Thailand says Monday’s air operations targeted Cambodian military positions to halt “supporting fire,” while Cambodia has urged Bangkok to immediately stop actions that could destabilize the wider region. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for urgent restraint, warning Southeast Asia cannot afford a return to cycles of armed confrontation. The border dispute is rooted in colonial-era maps and intensified in 1962 when the International Court of Justice granted Cambodia sovereignty over territory around the ancient Preah Vihear temple — a ruling that remains politically sensitive in Thailand.
The current ceasefire does not address these underlying territorial claims, leaving both militaries poised for further conflict even as international actors attempt to mediate. With tens of thousands displaced and cross-border shelling escalating, regional leaders are watching closely to determine whether the crisis stabilizes — or descends into a broader conflict neither side says it wants, but both appear prepared to wage.
