RENEWED clashes along the contested Thailand–Cambodia frontier have escalated sharply, with both governments accusing each other of reigniting hostilities and vowing to press ahead with military operations as casualties continue to rise.
The death toll has climbed steadily since heavy fighting resumed late on Sunday, shattering a fragile peace that had held since five days of clashes in July.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence reported on Tuesday that 13 civilians had been killed and 20 injured since Monday.
While, Thailand’s military confirmed that four soldiers had died and 68 had been wounded over several days of intense battles across multiple border positions.
Thai reports indicated that Cambodia had launched extensive strikes on Tuesday, with what Bangkok described as approximately 5,000 BM-21 rockets and 33 drone attacks directed at Thai bases and defensive points in hotspots including Chong An Ma, Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani, Thiang Ta Mok in Si Sa Ket, and Chong Khana–Prasat Ta Kwai in Surin.
The Thai Second Army Region stated that fighting between 9am and 5pm on Monday had been “intensive” and that the situation remained “active, tense and high-risk”, adding that its forces were at full readiness to defend the border and protect nearby communities.
Phnom Penh, however, insisted its troops had exercised restraint.
Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen said on social media that Cambodian forces had refrained from firing the previous day but had begun returning fire overnight.
He argued that striking areas where Thai troops were advancing would enable Cambodia to “weaken and destroy enemy forces through counterattacks”.
He added: “Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight back to defend its territory.”
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul claimed Phnom Penh had made no approach regarding possible talks and signalled that operations would continue.
“We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” he said. “The government will support all kinds of military operations as planned earlier.”
Sunday night’s renewed clashes triggered the flight of hundreds of thousands of civilians, echoing July’s confrontations, which saw the exchange of rockets and heavy artillery fire and forced the temporary evacuation of more than 300,000 people.
At least 48 people were killed in that earlier episode before a ceasefire was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and United States President Donald Trump.
Thailand suspended implementation of the accord last month following a landmine explosion that severely injured one of its soldiers.
The United States urged both sides to halt the violence. “We strongly urge the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and for both sides to return to the de-escalatory measures outlined in the October 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” Al Jazeera cited US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying.
Each government maintains the other is responsible for firing the first shots, leaving the border region braced for further escalation. - December 10, 2025
