A surge of violence has rocked the Thai-Cambodian border as Thailand launched airstrikes against Cambodian positions today, signaling a dramatic breakdown of a recently forged peace plan championed by US President Donald Trump.
Fresh clashes erupted early Monday along their long-disputed frontier, with each country accusing the other of firing first. Tensions had been simmering for weeks, following Thailand’s suspension of progress on a ceasefire agreement just months after it was brokered.
According to Thai Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree, the airstrikes targeted Cambodian artillery sites near Chong An Ma Pass in retaliation for an earlier attack that killed one Thai soldier and injured two others. Cambodia, however, said Thai forces initiated the assault, claiming Thailand struck its positions around 5.04 a.m. after “numerous provocative actions.”
The escalation has triggered a mass evacuation, with Thailand relocating nearly 70% of civilians living near the border. One civilian died during the evacuation due to a pre-existing medical issue, Thai authorities confirmed.
The two countries fought a deadly five-day conflict in July that left dozens dead and forced some 200,000 people from their homes. A US-backed ceasefire followed on July 28, and both sides later signed an expanded peace pact in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Trump hailed the deal as a landmark diplomatic win, but hopes faded quickly. Within weeks, Thailand paused implementation after a landmine blast injured its soldiers — a setback that foreshadowed the renewed fighting.
Border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia have flared sporadically for decades, but Monday’s confrontation marks one of the most serious escalations in years, with both sides trading blame for reigniting hostilities.
