Thailand launches air strikes at Cambodia as border tensions reignite
Thailand carried out air strikes along its volatile border with Cambodia on Monday. escalating a renewed wave of clashes that both sides blame on violations of a ceasefire agreement brokered earlier this year by US President Donald Trump.
The Thai military confirmed that one soldier was killed and four others wounded after Cambodian forces allegedly opened fire on Thai positions in Ubon Ratchathani province, a long-contested frontier zone. Thai officials said the situation intensified after Cambodian units targeted their troops in two separate areas.
In response, the Royal Thai Air Force deployed aircraft to strike what it described as 'military targets in several locations,' marking one of the most serious escalations since hostilities flared in July.
Cambodia’s defence ministry, however, accused Thailand of launching unprovoked dawn attacks on Monday, saying its forces had exercised restraint in the face of “repeated provocative actions” over recent days. The ministry insisted that Cambodian troops had not returned fire.
Thailand’s military separately accused Cambodia of firing BM-21 rockets toward Thai civilian zones, though it reported no casualties on the Thai side.
The latest fighting threatens to unravel months of fragile diplomacy. A five-day conflict in July left at least 48 people dead and forced roughly 300,000 residents on both sides to flee their homes. The violence only eased after a ceasefire was negotiated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and endorsed by Trump. In October, the two neighbours signed an expanded peace agreement in Kuala Lumpur, raising hopes for longer-term stability.
But tensions along the border — long disputed and militarised — have remained high. Analysts warn that the renewed clashes could spiral without immediate diplomatic intervention, raising fears of another prolonged conflict that could destabilise a region already grappling with political and economic uncertainty.
.png "Advertisement")
