Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia reignited on Monday as Thai forces launched airstrikes along the long-disputed border, marking a sharp escalation in a conflict that had been tenuously contained under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The Thai military said the strikes were carried out in response to Cambodian fire on its troops in Ubon Ratchathani province.
Airstrikes Follow Renewed Clashes
According to Thailand’s armed forces, at least one Thai soldier was killed and four others wounded after Cambodian units allegedly opened fire in two border areas. The military said it used aircraft to hit “military targets in several areas” as part of a defensive response.
Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of launching unprovoked attacks at dawn but insisted its forces had not retaliated. Thai officials countered that Cambodia had earlier fired BM-21 rockets toward civilian areas on the Thai side of the border. No civilian casualties were reported.
Ceasefire Unravels
The violence marks the deepest deterioration in relations since July, when a five-day border conflict killed at least 48 people and displaced around 300,000. A ceasefire negotiated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump brought the fighting to a temporary halt.
However, the agreement began to fray in recent weeks. Thailand suspended its participation in the pact after a landmine explosion severely injured one of its soldiers. Both countries have since accused each other of provocation.
Calls for Restraint
Former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, influential in national security affairs and father of current leader Hun Manet, condemned Thailand as an aggressor intent on provoking a response. He urged Cambodian commanders to maintain discipline and avoid being drawn into retaliation.
“The red line for responding has been set,” Hun Sen said, calling for restraint without offering further details.
Mass Evacuations Underway
Thai authorities have begun evacuating more than 385,000 civilians across four border districts. Over 35,000 people are currently housed in emergency shelters as the situation remains fluid.
Images from Buriram province show families resting in temporary facilities as artillery and air activity intensify near the border.
A Dispute Rooted in History
Thailand and Cambodia have contested overlapping areas of their 817-kilometre border for more than a century. The frontier was originally mapped in 1907 during French colonial rule over Cambodia, leaving several sections undemarcated. These ambiguities have repeatedly sparked military standoffs, including a weeklong conflict in 2011.
Despite periodic diplomatic efforts, the long-running dispute remains unresolved—and recent clashes have raised fresh concerns about prolonged instability in the region.
