Renewed border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia intensify as fighting expands
Renewed border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia intensify as fighting expands
The latest armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified and expanded to several contested border areas, while the death toll has risen on both sides.
The fresh armed clashes between the two countries were first reported on Sunday (7 December) in Sisaket’s Kantharalak District and later expanded to the Chong Bok area of Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen District, leaving two Thai soldiers injured.
Subsequently, deadly border clashes were reported in Ubon Ratchathani on Monday (8 December). The violence later spread to Surin and Buriram provinces on the same day, resulting in one soldier killed and eight injured.
However, on Tuesday (9 December), the clashes have spread into several contested areas in Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, and Trat provinces, and the death toll has risen. As of Tuesday (9 December), the 2nd Army Region reported that four Thai soldiers have been killed and 68 were injured. Meanwhile, 61 Cambodian soldiers have been killed, with the number of wounded yet to be assessed
The Royal Thai Army said that Cambodia used multiple types of weapons to attack Thailand, including drone strikes and newly laid landmines, which were found in the border areas of Sa Kaeo. It was also reported that two houses in Sa Kaeo were damaged after being struck by artillery shells.
According to the 2nd Army Region, a total of 492 temporary shelters have been established across the four border provinces, accommodating 125,838 people. These included 22,580 in Ubon Ratchathani, 45,914 in Sisaket, 51,781 in Surin and 5,563 in Buriram.
75 evacuation points for vulnerablre groups have been established, sheltering 3,123 people: 114 in Ubon Ratchathani, 77 in Sisaket, 2,632 in Surin, and 300 in Buriram.
In addition, 990 schools along the border have been closed.
The Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told the media that the government will support the military in every possible way, asserting that the military operations will continue and will not stop until Cambodia's military capability is completely neutralized.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow revealed that the Ministry clarified to envoys and the international community that Thailand did not initiate the violence.
When asked about the UN’s call for negotiations, he remarked that it depends on the Cambodian side, adding that Thailand has to carry on the military operations until Cambodia is ready for talks.
Meanwhile, the Thai military also confirmed its strong stance in line with the government. The Royal Thai Air Force’s spokesperson Air Marshal Chakkrit Thammavichai said that if Cambodia uses long-range weapons against Thailand, Thailand will carry out a preemptive strike under international law to protect civilians.
He also noted that while the use of military force will be a last resort, Thailand has now reached the point where military operations are necessary. The spokesperson reiterated that “the Thai military is fully prepared to fight at full capacity.”
* Thailand-Cambodia border tensions: what we know about new wave of armed clashes
What did Cambodia say?
In the press briefing on 9 December, LT Gen Maly Socheata, the Cambodian National Defence Minister’s spokesperson, revealed that the renewed clashes resulted in the death of seven innocent Cambodian civilians, and 20 were seriously injured.
The Cambodian National Defence also condemned aggressive actions of the Thai military forces which initiated firing and encroachment on Cambodia’s legitimate sovereignty, adding that the Cambodian armed forces had no other choice but to exercise their right to self-defense within their sovereign territory and to protect the motherland against the illegal acts of aggression by the Thai military forces, as enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Cambodian PM Hun Manet stated that Thai leaders have repeatedly declared through the media and international fora that Thailand is a peace-loving country and respects international laws. He hoped that the Thai government and military would adhere to the peaceful settlement of border issues, using agreed mechanisms and existing joint survey teams on demarcation.
“This is the simplest, most transparent and most just way, because Cambodia has no intention of violating the lawful sovereignty of any neighboring country. Whatever the results of the survey may be, Cambodia will respect them. I hope that Thailand will have the sincerity to do the same,” said Hun Manet.
Meanwhile, Cambodian former PM Hun Sen publicly challenged Thailand's military leadership and vowed an intensified counter-attack after Cambodia’s 24-hour patience in honouring a ceasefire ended.
Hun Sen said that Cambodian forces had held back for over a day to respect the truce and ensure civilian evacuation to safe zones, before escalating operations on Monday night and continuing on Tuesday morning.
“We are defending our territory with strong bunkers and all types of weapons. Meanwhile, the invading enemy must mobilize to attack our positions; they cannot carry their bunkers with them, and their heads are certainly not made of iron," said Hun Sen.
* Thailand-Cambodia peace at risk with Anutin administration under a military shadow
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Tue, 2025-12-09 - 23:24
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