Thailand carried out airstrikes on Cambodian military positions on Monday, signalling a sharp escalation in a border conflict that had already appeared close to unravelling after Bangkok halted progress on a US-backed ceasefire agreement. The Thai army said the strikes were launched in response to Cambodian artillery and mortar fire that killed one Thai soldier and injured two others earlier in the morning. Major General Winthai Suvaree said the operation targeted “arms-supporting positions” near the Chong An Ma Pass, accusing Cambodian units of repeatedly shelling Thai territory.
Cambodia rejected that account, accusing Thai forces of carrying out the first attack at around 5 a.m. and of engaging in “numerous provocative actions for many days”. Both sides reported heavy exchanges along the frontier, and Thailand said about 70% of civilians in border towns had already been evacuated.
Ceasefire collapses amid renewed clashes and diplomatic fallout
The violence marks the most serious breach of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, signed in late October and witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. That agreement followed a brutal five-day conflict in July that killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands. Yet tensions resumed almost immediately after Thailand suspended implementation of the deal last month, blaming a landmine blast that wounded several Thai soldiers on what it claimed were newly planted Cambodian explosives.Fresh incidents have followed. A Thai soldier lost a foot after a landmine explosion last week, prompting Bangkok to publicly accuse Cambodia of reigniting hostilities. A Cambodian civilian was later reported killed in new exchanges near Prey Chan village, with both governments trading accusations of deliberate escalation.Analysts say the ceasefire was always fragile. Experts from Singapore and Bangkok note that the deal failed to address the core territorial dispute dating back more than a century. Without a clear demarcation, both sides continue to interpret border lines differently — particularly around the contested ancient temple complexes that have long fuelled nationalist sentiment.
Long-running border dispute
Skirmishes have now spread across multiple flashpoints, including areas near Surin, Sa Kaeo, Oddar Meanchey and long-contentious temple zones. Both sides allege the use of heavy weaponry, while Thailand has accused Cambodia of firing BM-21 rockets into civilian districts and targeting a hospital — claims Phnom Penh denies. Diplomatic ties have sharply deteriorated, with each side expelling ambassadors in recent weeks.
