Bangkok: Tensions flared once again along the Thailand–Cambodia border on Monday after Thailand launched air strikes in a disputed frontier zone, killing one Thai soldier and injuring several others. The escalation came amid mutual accusations of ceasefire violations, despite a peace agreement brokered earlier this year by US President Donald Trump.
Cambodia confirmed that Thai aircraft carried out the strikes and said it refrained from responding militarily, though it continued to closely monitor developments. The border crisis, which began in May 2025, has repeatedly threatened to destabilise the region despite multiple rounds of diplomacy and international intervention.
The conflict first erupted into deadly clashes on May 28, when Cambodia reported the death of one of its soldiers during an exchange of fire with Thai troops near a contested area. Hostilities deepened through July, marked by a landmine blast that injured a Thai soldier and prompted Thailand to recall its ambassador. A day later, both nations accused each other of triggering heavy clashes, with Thailand deploying F-16 fighter jets that struck Cambodian military positions.
The violence intensified further on July 25, when widespread shelling and rocket fire across several points along the border resulted in the deadliest confrontations in more than a decade. Over the following days, at least 48 people were killed and nearly three lakh residents were forced to flee their homes.
Amid mounting casualties, President Trump intervened on July 26 and urged both nations to halt the fighting. His push for diplomacy led to a temporary truce, followed by broader negotiations. By July 28, Malaysia, China and the US joined efforts to pressure both sides into signing a formal agreement in Putrajaya to restore communication and end hostilities.
A strengthened ceasefire was finalised on October 26, again under Trump’s mediation, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Cambodia. Under the deal, both armies began withdrawing heavy weapons on November 1, including rocket systems, and initiated de-mining operations. Cambodia said at the time that the full withdrawal would be finished before the end of the year.
But the fragile peace collapsed on November 11 after a new landmine blast injured another Thai soldier. Thailand accused Cambodia of planting new explosives, a claim Phnom Penh denied. Renewed exchanges of fire the next day left at least one person dead, raising fears of another large-scale conflict.
Monday’s air strikes marked the most serious breach since the breakdown of the ceasefire. Thai officials said their troops came under Cambodian fire, forcing a retaliatory aerial response. Cambodia countered by accusing Thailand of violating the agreement and endangering civilians. Thousands of residents near the border have been evacuated as both nations brace for further escalation.
The situation remains volatile, with regional powers watching closely as diplomatic channels struggle to contain a conflict that has repeatedly spiralled out of control.
