Deadly shelling along the contested border
At least seven civilians have been killed and around 20 others injured in Cambodia amid a sharp escalation in fighting along the border with Thailand, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense. The ministry said fresh attacks this week have also forced more than 20,000 people from their homes in several communities and damaged infrastructure, temples, and public services.
In a statement on Tuesday, Cambodian officials accused the Thai military of firing “various types of long-range munitions” into civilian settlements as far as 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) from the frontier, warning that “further tragedies and damages continue to unfold” as the bombardment continues.
Thailand, for its part, says its forces are responding to Cambodian attacks. The Royal Thai Army reported that at least one Thai soldier was initially confirmed killed and 29 others injured in the latest round of combat around contested territory, with Thai officials later updating the toll to three soldiers killed and 29 people wounded as fighting spread.
How Cambodia Thailand border clashes escalated
The renewed violence follows months of uneasy calm after a ceasefire agreement earlier this year. Both governments accuse the other of firing first, as clashes since Monday have flared in multiple provinces along their more than 500-mile land boundary.
The Thai army said its positions came under “continuous attacks” by Cambodian forces, who it claims have been firing BM-21 multiple-launch rockets and using bomb-dropping and so-called “kamikaze” drones to target Thai bases and defensive positions along several fronts near the border.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry insists its troops are acting defensively, accusing Thailand of “indiscriminately and brutally targeting civilian residential areas” with artillery and other long-range weapons. Independent verification of battlefield claims from either side has been difficult, with much of the fighting occurring in remote areas.
Civilians shelter as heavy weapons and drones are used
The human impact of the Cambodia-Thailand border clashes has been immediate on both sides of the frontier. Thailand’s military says more than 125,000 people are staying in hundreds of temporary shelters set up in border provinces, including Surin and Buriram, after being moved away from danger zones.
In Cambodia, authorities report tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes, with families loading belongings onto tractors, motorcycles, and trucks to reach makeshift camps, schools, and repurposed markets farther from the shelling. Cambodian officials estimate nearly 55,000 people have been evacuated so far, and say that number is rising.
Residents on both sides have described scrambling for cover as artillery and rocket fire landed near homes, farms, and small businesses. Thai and Cambodian media have carried images of damaged houses, shattered windows, and people sleeping on thin mats in crowded shelters as they wait for news about when it will be safe to return.
Ceasefire under strain and long dispute in the background
The latest round of fighting comes only months after Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a ceasefire aimed at stopping earlier deadly clashes along the border. That truce, brokered with help from regional partners and backed by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, called for heavy weapons to be pulled back, land mines to be cleared, and inflammatory rhetoric to be curbed.
Many of those provisions were never fully implemented. Thailand recently suspended some de-escalation measures after accusing Cambodia of laying new land mines that maimed Thai soldiers, a charge Phnom Penh denies, saying any mines are remnants of its long civil war.
The two neighbors have a long history of mistrust and intermittent clashes along their border, which runs more than 800 kilometers (about 500 miles). Some of the most sensitive areas are around ancient temples and historic sites claimed by both sides, where questions of sovereignty can quickly inflame nationalist sentiment.
Little sign of talks as leaders vow to keep fighting
So far, there is little indication that either government is ready to step back. Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, the country’s former longtime prime minister and still a powerful figure, has vowed a “fierce fight” to defend Cambodia’s territory, saying the country was “forced to fight back” after trying to hold fire to allow evacuations.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has, in turn, ruled out immediate negotiations, telling reporters that the military has a plan it will carry out in full and that operations will continue “until attacks stop.” Thai officials insist their forces are aiming only at military targets to degrade Cambodia’s capabilities, while Cambodian leaders accuse Thailand of targeting civilians and cultural heritage sites.
Regional organizations and international partners have called for restraint and renewed talks, warning that any further escalation could deepen the humanitarian crisis and destabilize a key part of Southeast Asia. But with both sides trading accusations and reinforcing their positions, a path back to the ceasefire remains uncertain.
Sources:
AP News – “Cambodia vows fierce fight against Thailand in escalating border conflict”
Reuters – “Border battle expands as Thailand and Cambodia clash for second day.”
