Cambodia and Thailand Trade Fresh Accusations as Border Violence Persists

Gerik

Summary:

Despite claims from the United States that Cambodia and Thailand agreed to halt fighting, both sides report continued military attacks along their shared border, with rising casualties and large-scale civilian displacement....

Conflicting Narratives After Claimed Ceasefire

Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand remain high as both governments accuse each other of ongoing military aggression along the border. These developments directly contradict a recent statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the two Southeast Asian countries had agreed to stop hostilities and return to the terms of a peace agreement signed in Malaysia in late October.

Official statements released by Phnom Penh and Bangkok indicate that clashes have not only continued but intensified in several areas, raising doubts about the effectiveness and enforcement of any ceasefire understanding.

Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Air Strikes

On the morning of December 13, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense accused Thai forces of launching new attacks using F-16 fighter jets. According to the Cambodian side, airstrikes targeted locations in Pursat, Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddar Meanchey provinces. Cambodian authorities described these actions as violations of sovereignty and security.

At the same time, the ministry rejected reports circulating in Thai media that Cambodia was preparing to deploy multiple rocket launch systems from Kampong Thom province to strike Thai targets. Cambodian officials labeled these claims inaccurate and called on Thailand to stop spreading what they described as false information.

The humanitarian impact has continued to worsen. Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior reported that by the afternoon of December 12, more than 300,000 civilians had been forced to evacuate from border areas due to ongoing fighting. This sharp rise in displacement reflects the direct link between sustained military activity and growing civilian hardship.

Thailand Reports Continued Attacks and Military Losses

Thailand has offered a sharply different account of events. Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of Defense, stated that Cambodian forces continued to launch heavy attacks along the border, particularly in Sa Kaeo province. Thai authorities confirmed that their military remained in an active defensive posture.

The Royal Thai Navy reported that it destroyed a Cambodian command center on the morning of December 12 as part of its operational response. Thailand’s Internal Security Operations Command also confirmed that one Thai soldier was killed by an explosive device during clashes at Hill 677 in Ubon Ratchathani province. This incident brought the total number of Thai military fatalities to ten since hostilities escalated.

These losses illustrate how continued engagements on the ground translate directly into rising military casualties, reinforcing the fragility of the security situation.

Disputed Casualty Figures and Escalating Claims

The Thai military estimates that approximately 165 Cambodian soldiers have been killed since the conflict intensified. However, Phnom Penh has not confirmed this figure, highlighting a significant gap between the two sides’ assessments of the battlefield situation. This discrepancy points to a broader information divide that complicates diplomatic efforts and fuels mutual distrust.

The persistence of fighting, combined with conflicting official statements, raises questions about the credibility of external mediation efforts and the durability of recent peace commitments. While international actors may view the Malaysia agreement as a framework for de-escalation, developments on the ground suggest that political agreements have not yet translated into reduced military engagement.

The situation also underscores a broader pattern in which unresolved border disputes, when combined with heightened military readiness and information warfare, increase the risk of prolonged instability. Without effective monitoring and mutual verification mechanisms, announcements of ceasefires remain vulnerable to rapid breakdown.

The renewed exchange of accusations between Cambodia and Thailand highlights a deteriorating security environment along their shared border. Continued reports of air strikes, ground clashes, military casualties, and mass civilian displacement show that the conflict remains active despite claims of diplomatic progress. Unless both sides align political commitments with tangible restraint on the ground, the risk of further escalation and humanitarian strain is likely to remain high.

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