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Khaled Saifulla 8 Dec 2025 , 5:47 PM Print Edition
Conflict has resumed on the Thailand-Cambodia border. On Monday (December 8), the Thai military conducted airstrikes targeting positions inside Cambodia. This development puts the peace agreement, mediated by US President Donald Trump, at risk. The two neighboring Southeast Asian countries reached the truce just two months ago with his assistance.
US news outlet CNN reported that as gunfire and explosions increased along the border starting early Monday morning, both countries accused the other of initiating the attack. The situation escalated again following several weeks of tension and Thailand’s suspension of the implementation of the agreement.
The Thai military stated that the airstrikes targeting Cambodian military positions were conducted primarily as retaliation. Thailand took the countermeasure after one Thai soldier was killed and two others were wounded in an attack on Monday morning local time.
Thai Major General Winthai Suvaree said, “The attack targeted Cambodian weapon-supported positions in the Chong An Ma Pass area. They fired artillery and mortars from there, attacking the Anupong base, resulting in the death of one of our soldiers and injuries to two others.”
The Thai army claims that Cambodian forces began shelling the border around 3:00 AM on Monday. Conversely, the Cambodian army stated that Thai forces attacked them at 5:04 AM local time. They alleged that “Thai forces had been carrying out various provocative actions for a long time.”
Due to the escalating conflict, approximately 70% of civilians have been evacuated from the Thai border towns. Thai authorities also reported that one person died during the evacuation due to pre-existing health complications.
Previously, a five-day border war occurred between the two countries last July. It resulted in many fatalities and displaced about two hundred thousand people. Subsequently, President Trump announced a preliminary ceasefire on July 28 after phone calls with the leaders of both nations.
In late October, Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, in the presence of Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Trump had claimed that moment as his major diplomatic success.
However, the agreement began to break down within two weeks of its signing. Bangkok halted progress on the pact after several Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion near the border.
