The Royal Thai Army says it has carried out airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia, after a series of deadly clashes that have reignited tensions between the two neighbours.
Thailand reported that one soldier was killed and eight others wounded on Monday morning after what it described as Cambodian forces opening fire on Thai troops.
Cambodia, however, rejected the allegation and claimed Thailand initiated the attack, insisting its own forces did not retaliate.
Fighting Spreads Across Multiple Provinces
Clashes were reported in Thailand’s north-eastern provinces of Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani, as well as Cambodia’s northern border provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey.
Both sides accuse each other of breaching a ceasefire brokered earlier this year by Malaysia and former US President Donald Trump. That agreement was reached after a fierce border conflict in July, which escalated into a five-day war that left at least 48 people dead and forced an estimated 300,000 people from their homes.
Mutual Accusations and Heavy Weaponry
On Monday, the Thai military released footage it said showed a Cambodian mortar strike landing on Thai territory. Both countries have repeatedly accused each other of firing heavy weaponry across their shared border since hostilities resumed.
Tens of thousands of people in both Thailand and Cambodia have been asked to evacuate as fresh fighting intensifies, raising fears of a broader confrontation between the long-time rivals.
Ceasefire Under Strain
This is the most serious escalation since the July ceasefire, which Trump claimed credit for negotiating. Despite the agreement, each side has persistently accused the other of violating its terms.
The neighbours’ long-standing dispute centres on unresolved border demarcation issues, particularly around the historically sensitive area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple. With both sides trading accusations and mobilising troops, the likelihood of a swift return to calm appears increasingly uncertain.
