Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated on Monday as both countries conducted airstrikes along their disputed border, each accusing the other of initiating the attack.
The outbreak comes just weeks after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire ended five days of clashes in July that left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead.
Thai Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree claimed Cambodian forces fired first in multiple areas of Thai territory, resulting in the death of one Thai soldier and injuries to four others. “Civilians are being evacuated for their safety,” he said. “We used aircraft to strike military targets in several areas to suppress Cambodian supporting fire attacks.”
Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata, however, insisted Thailand launched the first strikes and said Cambodia did not retaliate during Monday’s initial attacks. “Cambodia urges Thailand to immediately cease all hostile activities that threaten peace and stability in the region,” she stated.
Schools along the border were closed as a precaution, with videos showing children fleeing classes to return to their families. A brief exchange of fire also occurred on Sunday, with both sides blaming the other for initiating the confrontation.
The border dispute between the two nations has deep historical roots, dating back centuries to when Thailand and Cambodia were rival empires.
Modern claims largely stem from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule, which Thailand contests. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded Cambodia sovereignty over the area containing the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple—a decision still disputed by some in Thailand.
Despite the July ceasefire, neither country has reached a permanent resolution, leaving the border region vulnerable to recurring clashes.
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