Thailand has launched air strikes along its disputed border with Cambodia after both countries accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Thai military announced on Monday.
Renewed Clashes in Ubon Ratchathani
According to Thailand’s military, the latest clashes erupted around two areas in the eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani. One Thai soldier was killed and four others wounded when Cambodian forces allegedly opened fire. In response, the Thai side deployed aircraft to strike military targets across several locations, the army said in a statement.
Cambodia’s defence ministry claimed Thai troops had initiated dawn attacks on its positions after “days of provocative actions.” It insisted Cambodian forces had not retaliated. Meanwhile, Thailand accused Cambodia of firing BM-21 rockets toward Thai civilian areas, though no civilian casualties were reported.
Fragile Peace Unravels
The conflict marks a serious breakdown of a fragile truce agreed in July after a five-day border war that left at least 48 people dead and displaced around 300,000 civilians. That ceasefire was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and witnessed by Trump during a peace signing in Kuala Lumpur in October.
Tensions escalated again last month when a Thai soldier was maimed by a landmine near the border. Thailand then announced it would suspend implementation of the ceasefire pact. Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen, father of current leader Hun Manet, accused the Thai military of acting as “aggressors” and warned troops to maintain discipline.
“The red line for responding has already been set,” Hun Sen said in a Facebook post, urging commanders to educate their soldiers and avoid provocation.
Evacuations Underway
Thai authorities said more than 385,000 civilians are being evacuated from four districts near the border, with over 35,000 people already relocated to temporary shelters.
The two Southeast Asian neighbours have contested several sections of their 817-kilometre frontier for more than a century. The border, first mapped by France in 1907 during its colonial rule over Cambodia, has remained largely undemarcated. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, disputes have periodically erupted into violence, including a weeklong artillery exchange in 2011.
(with inputs from Reuters)
