Thailand carried out airstrikes against Cambodia on Monday, as fresh clashes erupted between the Southeast Asian neighbours, threatening to unravel a peace plan overseen by United States President, Donald Trump just two months ago.
Both nations accused each other of initiating strikes along their contested border early Monday, following weeks of mounting tensions and Thailand’s earlier suspension of progress on the ceasefire agreement.
The Royal Thai Air Force said the airstrikes were directed solely at military targets, including “weapon depots, command centers and logistical routes assessed as direct threats.”
“Cambodia had mobilized heavy weaponry, repositioned combat units and prepared fire-support elements – activities that could escalate military operations and pose a threat to the Thai baorder area,” the RTAF statement added.
A Thai military official described the airstrikes as a response to an attack earlier Monday that killed a Thai soldier.
“The target was at Cambodia’s arms supporting positions in the area of Chong An Ma Pass, because those targets had used artilleries and mortar launchers to attack the Thai side at Anupong Base, resulting in one soldier killed and two soldiers injured,” Thai Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said.
The Thai army reported that Cambodia began targeting the Thai border at approximately 3 a.m. local time.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense refuted the allegations, calling them “false information” in a statement on X.
“Standing on the spirit of respecting all previous agreements and resolving conflicts peacefully according to international law, Cambodia did not retaliate at all during the two assaults and continues to monitor the situation vigilantly and with utmost caution,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian army accused Thailand of initiating “an attack on the Cambodian forces” around 5:04 a.m. local time.
“It should be noted that this attack occurred after the Thai forces engaged in numerous provocative actions for many days,” the statement said.
According to Thai authorities, roughly 70% of civilians have been evacuated from border towns. One civilian death was reported during the evacuation due to a “pre-existing medical condition.”
Earlier this year, Thailand and Cambodia fought a five-day border conflict in July that left dozens dead and displaced roughly 200,000 people on both sides.
An initial ceasefire was reached on July 28 following calls with Trump, and an expanded ceasefire was signed in Kuala Lumpur in late October in a ceremony witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Trump hailed the moment as a significant diplomatic achievement, bolstering his often-contested claims of ending multiple conflicts.
However, the ceasefire soon began to falter. Thailand announced a halt to the agreement after a landmine explosion injured several Thai soldiers.
Thailand and Cambodia have a history of sporadic border clashes, with recent skirmishes marking some of the most severe confrontations in years. Each side blames the other for initiating the latest hostilities.
