Thailand launched airstrikes on the border with Cambodia as new clashes broke out between these two neighbors, leaving a Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians dead, sources from both countries reported on Monday (08/12/2025).
The two Southeast Asian countries, which have had border disputes for decades, saw five days of fighting in July that left 43 people dead and about 300,000 displaced before a ceasefire took effect.
That ceasefire was ratified in an agreement at the end of October, but was suspended weeks later by Thailand due to a mine explosion that injured several soldiers.
Since then, both sides reported sporadic fighting at the border, which escalated on Sunday and Monday.
Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra reported that four civilians were killed and 10 injured in attacks in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces.
Civilian exodus
The new hostilities led to the displacement of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border.
“The village asked us to evacuate and given what happened in July, I complied immediately,” said 59-year-old Thai woman Tannarat Woratham, who left her home a few kilometers from the Cambodian border on Sunday.
“Many of us thought the conflict was over. This shouldn’t have happened again,” he lamented.
The European Union called on the two countries on Monday to “exercise maximum restraint,” while U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to “renew their commitment to the ceasefire negotiated earlier this year,” his spokesman reported.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also urgently called for moderation and relaxation.
“All parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, which aims to limit harm to the population, in particular the loss of civilian life and damage to civilian objects, including essential infrastructure,” the humanitarian organization reminded.
A centuries-old disagreement
The dispute centers on a centuries-old disagreement over boundaries drawn in the region during French colonial rule. Both Thailand and Cambodia claim sovereignty over several ancient temples in the border area.
He also stressed that the injured must be given the care they need.
The dispute centers on a centuries-old disagreement over boundaries drawn in the region during French colonial rule. Both Thailand and Cambodia claim sovereignty over several ancient temples in the border area.
In July, the cessation of hostilities was achieved through the mediation of the United States, China and Malaysia, the latter country serving as president of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
jc (afp, efe, reuters)
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