Thailand announced this Saturday (13) that it would continue its military operations against Cambodia, despite the fact that US President Donald Trump announced a truce in border clashes between the two countries a few hours earlier.
The most recent clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbors left around 20 dead and the displacement of more than 500,000 people on both sides. They stem from a long-standing dispute over the demarcation of its 800 km border, established during the colonial era. Both camps accuse each other of fueling the conflict.
“Thailand will continue to carry out military actions until we consider that there is no longer any danger or threat to our territory and our people,” Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Facebook.
“Our actions this morning speak for themselves,” he added, as Thai authorities confirmed “retaliatory” strikes against Cambodian targets on Saturday at 5:50 a.m. local time (7:50 p.m. Friday, Brasilia time).
Thai planes “successfully destroyed” two bridges in Cambodia that he said were used to transport weapons to the battlefield, according to spokesman Chakkrit Thammavichai. The planes “use high-precision weapons to avoid harming innocent civilians,” he said.
Furthermore, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense previously reported that “Thai armed forces used two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs” on its territory. According to Information Minister Neth Pheaktra, Thailand has “expanded its attacks on civilian infrastructure and Cambodian civilians.”
The announcement of continued hostilities comes just hours after Trump announced Friday that the two countries had agreed to suspend clashes, following telephone conversations with their prime ministers.
“I had a very good conversation this morning with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet about the unfortunate resurgence of their protracted war,” the Republican said in Truth Social.
According to the American president, Thailand and Cambodia “agreed to cease all shooting from this evening and to return to the initial peace agreement”, concluded under his mediation and that of Malaysia in July. “Both countries are ready for PEACE and to continue negotiations with the United States,” he added.
After the phone call, the Thai prime minister said it was necessary “to announce to the whole world that Cambodia will respect the ceasefire.” “Those who violated the agreement must resolve the situation, not those who suffered the consequences,” added Anutin, who dissolved Thailand’s Parliament on Friday, paving the way for general elections in early 2026.
“Cambodia has always been committed to peaceful means of resolving disputes,” Cambodian Prime Minister Manet said on Facebook on Saturday. He added that he suggested the United States and Malaysia use their intelligence resources “to verify which side opened fire first” on December 7.
The fighting entered its seventh day on Saturday, two days more than in July, when an episode of violence left 43 dead and forced the evacuation of around 300,000 people.
The United States, China and Malaysia then negotiated a ceasefire, and in October, Trump approved a joint declaration of peace agreement. However, Thailand suspended the deal the following month after several of its soldiers were injured by landmines on the border.
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