On 8th December, Thailand conducted airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia, at around 5:04 am. According to Thai army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree the assault transpired after “the Army received reports that Thai soldiers were attacked with supporting fire weapons, resulting in one soldier killed and four wounded.” However, the number of injured soldiers later reached eight.
The development was followed by accusations of violations of the ceasefire deal made by both sides. The agreement was brokered by the United States President Donald Trump. An official communication conveyed, “The Thai side has now begun using aircraft to strike military targets in several areas.”
Thailand’s military stated that the fresh conflict erupted near two locations in the easternmost province of Ubon Ratchathani after its soldiers were fired upon by Cambodians. A statement from Combodian defence ministry charged that following days of provocative acts, the Thai military began dawn attacks on its forces at two locations but they had not responded and the situation was under monitoring. Thailand accused that Combodia fired BM-21 rockets into the residential areas, although no casualties were reported.
The confontration stemmed from weeks of simmering tension and Thailand’s earlier halt of progress on the ceasefire accord. According to a statement from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), the attacks solely targeted military facilities, such as “weapon depots, command centres, and logistical routes assessed as direct threats.”
“Standing on the spirit of respecting all previous agreements and resolving conflicts peacefully according to international law, Cambodia did not retaliate at all during the two assaults and continues to monitor the situation vigilantly and with utmost caution. Additionally, Cambodia, for the second time, has informed the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) about this incident and plans to request the AOT to conduct an investigation into the matter to ensure transparency, justice, and impartiality,” Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense asserted while countering RTAF’s allegations.
“It should be noted that this attack occurred after the Thai forces engaged in numerous provocative actions for many days,” Cambodia emphasised. According to the Thai government, about 70% of Thai citizens had been evacuated from border areas. It also mentioned that a “pre-existing medical condition” claimed the life of one individual during the process.
The struggle between Thailand and Cambodia originates from a long-standing dispute over borders drawn under French colonial authority in the area. Both nations claim a number of prominent temples along the border. In July, the issue escalated into a five-day clash leading to scores of fatalities and the displacement of over 200,000 people on both sides of the border.
Afterward, Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim led negotiations that resulted in a ceasefire on 28th July. The two leaders even attended a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur where the two hostile neighbours signed an extended ceasefire declaration in October. Trump even propagated the event to further his image of a global “peace mediator.”
