Thailand conducted air strikes near its contentious border with Cambodia on Monday, following mutual accusations of ceasefire violations. This agreement was initially facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Recent clashes in Ubon Ratchathani province resulted in the death of one Thai soldier and injuries to four others, as reported by the Thai military after their forces were targeted by Cambodian fire.
In response to the renewed conflict, over 385,000 civilians from four border districts in Thailand are being evacuated, with more than 35,000 already relocated to temporary shelters, according to the Thai military.
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“Thailand has initiated airstrikes against military targets in multiple areas,” the military’s statement confirmed.
The Cambodian defense ministry stated that Thai forces launched early morning attacks on two locations after several provocative incidents, emphasizing that Cambodian troops have not responded.
The Thai army reported that Cambodia’s military fired BM-21 rockets into civilian areas, yet no casualties were reported.
CEASEFIRE COLLAPSE
The border dispute escalated into a five-day conflict in July, leading to a ceasefire mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Trump. This ceasefire followed an expanded peace agreement signed in October in Kuala Lumpur.
During the July skirmishes, at least 48 people died and approximately 300,000 were displaced, with both nations exchanging heavy artillery fire. After a recent landmine explosion that injured a Thai soldier, Thailand announced a pause in the ceasefire agreement with Cambodia.
Cambodia’s influential former leader, Hun Sen, father of current Prime Minister Hun Manet, labeled Thailand’s military actions as aggressive provocations and urged Cambodian troops to remain calm.
“We have a defined limit for retaliation. I call on commanders to educate officers and soldiers accordingly,” Hun Sen stated on Facebook.
For over a century, Thailand and Cambodia have disputed sovereignty over their 817-km (508-mile) border, initially demarcated by France in 1907 when it colonized Cambodia. Despite efforts to peacefully resolve these overlapping claims, tensions have sporadically erupted into conflicts, like the weeklong artillery exchange in 2011. (Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal and Martin Petty; Editing by John Mair)
