Thailand announced on Tuesday it had begun military operations to expel Cambodian forces from its territory, as renewed clashes between the two neighbours spread along their disputed border.
The Thai Navy said Cambodian troops were detected inside Thai territory in the coastal province of Trat, prompting action to push them back. It accused Cambodian forces of escalating their presence by deploying snipers, heavy weapons, and fortifying positions, describing the moves as “a direct and serious threat to Thailand’s sovereignty.”
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry reported two civilian deaths overnight, raising its toll to six since fighting resumed. Thailand confirmed one soldier had been killed.
Prime Minister Hun Manet accused Thailand of attacking civilian villages “under the pretext of reclaiming its sovereignty” and warned against further military escalation. Cambodian officials said their forces had not retaliated despite sustained attacks.
Fiercest Fighting Since July Ceasefire
Monday’s clashes were the most intense since July, when five days of rocket and artillery exchanges killed at least 48 people and displaced more than 300,000 before U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire.
Thailand evacuated 438,000 civilians across five border provinces during that conflict, while Cambodia moved hundreds of thousands to safety. The Thai army said 18 soldiers were wounded in the latest fighting, while Cambodia reported nine civilian injuries.
Longstanding Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty along undemarcated sections of their 817-km (508-mile) border for more than a century. Disputes over ancient temples have frequently stirred nationalist sentiment and triggered armed flare-ups, including a deadly week-long artillery exchange in 2011.
Tensions escalated earlier this year after the killing of a Cambodian soldier in May, which led to a troop buildup and a breakdown in diplomatic relations.
