Thailand launched airstrikes late on Monday along its disputed border with Cambodia as both governments blamed each other for triggering the latest round of violence, raising new doubts about the stability of a Trump-brokered ceasefire.
Thai military officials said Cambodian troops opened fire in several areas along the border, killing one Thai soldier and wounding others. The Thai military said civilians in nearby communities were being evacuated as the situation worsened. Major General Winthai Suvaree told The Associated Press that Cambodian forces first fired into Thai territory and aircraft were used to “attack military targets in various areas to suppress Cambodian supporting fire attacks.”
Cambodia has rejected that story. Defense Ministry spokesman Maly Socheata told AP that Thai forces attacked first and said Cambodia did not retaliate in the initial confrontation. The ministry urged Thailand to stop its military actions.
Footage from the Cambodian Ministry of Education showed students leaving schools near the border as families rushed to pick up their children.
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In this photo released by the Royal Thai Army, a wounded Thai soldier is carried to a hospital in Sisaket province, Thailand, on Sunday, December 7, 2025, after Cambodian forces fired into Thai territory, according to a Thai army spokesman. (Royal Thai Army via AP)
The escalation follows a smaller gun battle on Sunday. Thailand said Cambodian troops wounded two of its soldiers before Thai troops responded for about 20 minutes. Cambodia claimed that Thailand also initiated this encounter and said it did not return fire.
Cambodian soldiers (C) ride their motorcycles as local residents evacuate following clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border in Preah Vihear province on December 8, 2025. (AFP via Getty Images)
Tensions persist despite an October ceasefire negotiated by US President Donald Trump that ended five days of fighting in July that left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead. That agreement showed signs of strain last month when several Thai soldiers were injured by landmines in disputed areas, leading the Thai government to announce it would suspend implementation of parts of the agreement.
Both sides have continued to blame each other for ceasefire violations, even as the truce calls for cooperation on mine removal and steps to stabilize the border.
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Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of conflict dating back to rival kingdoms that fought for influence for centuries. In modern times, disputes have focused on French colonial-era border maps, which Thailand claims are inaccurate.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet shake hands after the signing of a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, as US President Donald Trump reacts at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Despite the October agreement, neither country has reached a resolution to the underlying territorial dispute, and regional observers warn that new clashes could push the two nations closer to a broader conflict without renewed diplomatic engagement.
