Thailand initiated airstrikes along the contested border with Cambodia on Monday following accusations from both sides of violating a ceasefire agreed upon earlier this year to halt previous conflicts. A series of clashes erupted in July due to long-standing border disputes, resulting in casualties among soldiers and civilians. Despite efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to broker a truce in October, tensions between the Southeast Asian nations have persisted.
The Thai military reported that over 50,000 individuals have evacuated border areas for safety, while Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra confirmed the evacuation of residents from villages near the border. The recent clashes have resulted in the death of at least one Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized in a televised address the necessity of military actions to safeguard the country and ensure public security. He reiterated that Thailand does not seek violence and has never initiated hostilities, although it will not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty.
The ceasefire agreement faced strain in early November after Thai troops were injured by landmines, prompting Thailand to suspend the agreement indefinitely. Both countries continue to blame each other for the incidents, despite being expected to cooperate in clearing landmines.
Trump intervened in mid-November to maintain the ceasefire amid escalating tensions. However, a brief exchange of fire occurred on Sunday, with each side alleging that the other initiated the attack. Thai military officials stated that Cambodian troops first fired into Thai territory, resulting in casualties and civilian evacuations.
Thailand utilized aircraft to target military installations in response to Cambodian attacks, according to the Thai army spokesperson. In contrast, the Cambodian Defence Ministry asserted that Thai forces initiated the attacks and called for an end to actions threatening regional peace.
The Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, urged restraint and expressed readiness to support efforts to prevent further conflict in the region. Thailand and Cambodia have a history of rivalry dating back centuries, rooted in territorial disputes influenced by a map from 1907.
The International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over a disputed area, including the Preah Vihear temple, to Cambodia in 1962, exacerbating tensions. The ceasefire agreement does not address the fundamental disagreements over border demarcation between the two nations.
