Tensions have flared again on the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia, as Thailand launched a fresh round of airstrikes early Monday. The escalation comes amid renewed accusations from both governments over violations of the current ceasefire agreement.
According to official figures, one Thai soldier has been killed and four others injured as the situation deteriorates.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the strikes, stating:
“The Thai side has now begun using aircraft to attack military positions in several areas,” the ministry said in an official statement.
Cambodian officials reported that Thai forces launched attacks at dawn on two Cambodian positions after several days of what they described as “provocative actions” by Thai troops. Phnom Penh added that Cambodian forces did not retaliate, despite the scale of the assault.
The border dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbours escalated dramatically in July, resulting in five days of intense fighting before a ceasefire was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump. Both leaders later witnessed the signing of an expanded peace agreement in Kuala Lumpur in October.
The July conflict left at least 48 people dead and around 300,000 displaced, with both sides firing rockets and heavy artillery, marking one of the most serious outbreaks of violence between the two countries in recent years.
The renewed hostilities raise concerns over the fragility of the peace process and the risk of a broader regional escalation.
