Thailand-Cambodia border fighting intensifies as ceasefire collapses, civilians flee en masse

Fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border has sharply intensified, marking the collapse of a fragile ceasefire and forcing tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes as artillery, airstrikes and drone attacks spread across multiple disputed regions.

The latest wave of violence began late Sunday night when a Thai soldier was killed during a border skirmish, triggering a rapid escalation despite an October truce that had temporarily halted earlier clashes. That ceasefire, brokered by Malaysia with diplomatic pressure from the United States , had been intended to stop hostilities and reduce the military footprint along the frontier.

A central dispute now dominating the conflict is who violated the ceasefire. Cambodian defence authorities have accused Thailand of restarting the fighting, alleging that Thai forces carried out intense artillery shelling between 8:39 pm on 8 December and 8 am on 9 December. According to Cambodian officials, border villages including Chok Chey and Prey Chan were targeted, while reconnaissance drones were flown over the Boeung Trakuon area. Operations were also reported in Boeung Pring , Thmar Pouk and Komrieng districts in Battambang Province .

Cambodia alleges that heavy weapons, including gas-based munitions , were used and that shelling in Thmar Pouk district of Banteay Meanchey Province struck civilians fleeing along National Road 56 , killing two people .

Thailand has rejected these accusations and insists that Cambodian forces fired first. Thai military officials claim Cambodian troops launched artillery, rocket and drone attacks on Thai positions, forcing Thailand to respond in what it described as defensive actions . Both sides continue to blame each other for the initial shots.

The human toll has grown steadily. Cambodian military authorities have reported seven civilian deaths and at least 20 injuries since the renewed fighting began. Thailand’s military has confirmed that three of its soldiers have been killed .

Large-scale displacement has followed. In Thailand, nearly 500 temporary shelters have been established across four border provinces , housing about 125,000 evacuees . In Surin, university halls have been converted into shelters, where families sleep on thin mats and in makeshift indoor tents. Meals are distributed by military and volunteers, fans are used to cope with daytime heat, and blankets are issued at night as temperatures fall to around 18°C .

On the Cambodian side, former public spaces have been transformed into emergency shelters. In Banteay Meanchey Province , a former market now houses displaced families. Factory workers and farmers described hurried departures after hearing shelling, often leaving with only a few essential belongings. Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra reported that almost 55,000 people have been evacuated, with numbers continuing to rise.

Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen declared that Cambodia would respond forcefully to the attacks. Cambodian authorities said their forces initially refrained from retaliation but later launched counterattacks as shelling intensified.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that Cambodia had not sought negotiations and that military operations would continue. He said the government had authorised planned military operations to protect national sovereignty and public safety.

Thailand also confirmed conducting airstrikes along the frontier , describing them as defensive operations against military installations. Thai military officials stated that these operations would continue until attacks from the Cambodian side ceased.

Fighting has now reportedly spread to six of the seven Thai provinces bordering Cambodia, with Thai naval forces conducting operations in Trat Province to push back Cambodian units.

Thailand and Cambodia share a land border stretching more than 800 kilometres and have a long history of territorial disputes. Several contested areas contain ancient temple complexes that both nations regard as part of their cultural and historical heritage.

The ceasefire that ended July’s fighting was brokered by Malaysia and backed by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump , who warned of trade consequences if fighting did not stop. Although a follow-up agreement signed in October called for the withdrawal of heavy weapons , the removal of land mines , and the end of hostile propaganda , these measures were never fully implemented.

A persistent point of tension has been Thailand’s continued detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers captured on the day the ceasefire took effect. Cambodia maintains their detention violates the spirit of the agreement, while Thailand argues they approached Thai positions in a threatening manner.

Thailand has also accused Cambodia of laying new land mines in disputed areas, incidents that have wounded several Thai soldiers. Cambodia denies these allegations, saying the mines are leftovers from the civil war that ended in 1999.

After a recent landmine incident injured Thai soldiers, Thailand announced earlier this month that it would indefinitely pause parts of the ceasefire implementation until Cambodia issued an apology.

With artillery exchanges, drone warfare and airstrikes continuing, the Thailand-Cambodia border remains one of Southeast Asia’s most volatile flashpoints. Diplomatic engagement has stalled, and neither side has shown signs of immediate de-escalation, raising fears that the renewed conflict could escalate further and draw in wider regional concern.