Tensions have dramatically escalated on the disputed frontier between Thailand and Cambodia, with the Thai military confirming it has launched airstrikes against its neighbour. This major development shatters a ceasefire agreement brokered over a month ago and overseen by former US President Donald Trump.
Ceasefire Shattered in Early Morning Attack
The latest violence erupted in the early hours of Monday morning. According to Cambodia's defence ministry spokesperson, Maly Socheata, Thai forces initiated an attack on Cambodian troops at approximately 5am local time. She asserted that Cambodian forces had not retaliated to this provocation.
On the Thai side, army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree presented a different account, stating that Thai soldiers were attacked with supporting fire weapons. This assault, he said, resulted in the death of one Thai soldier and left four others wounded. A second soldier was later declared to have died from injuries sustained.
Retaliation and Calls for Restraint
In response to the clashes, the Thai military announced it had begun using aircraft to strike military targets in several areas along the border. The stated aim of these airstrikes is to suppress further attacks from Cambodian forces.
Amidst the rising hostilities, Cambodia's influential former prime minister, Hun Sen, issued a public plea for calm. The father of the current leader, Hun Manet, urged Cambodian commanders to exercise maximum restraint. In a statement on Facebook, he accused Thailand of attempting to "pull us into retaliation" and emphasised that a "red line for responding" had already been established for the military.
Human Cost and Evacuations
The human impact of the renewed conflict is swiftly mounting. On the Thai side of the border, authorities have ordered the evacuation of villages across four provinces. It is reported that around 35,000 residents are now registered at emergency shelters, having fled their homes.
This distressing scene evokes memories of a previous major flare-up in July, when at least 48 people were killed and a staggering 300,000 were forced to flee during a five-day war. The current escalation threatens to reignite a similar humanitarian crisis in the region.
With both nations trading accusations over who breached the Trump-era truce, the situation on the ground remains volatile and dangerously unpredictable. This is a developing story.
