On Tuesday, December 9, renewed fighting flared along the disputed Thailand–Cambodia border, marking the fiercest clashes since July’s ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump ⚔️. Each side blames the other for violations that have derailed a fragile peace.
Thailand’s Navy reported that Cambodian forces were detected inside Thai territory in Trat province, deploying snipers, heavy weapons and fortified positions. Military operations were launched to expel them, a move seen as a direct threat to Thailand’s sovereignty. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said Thai troops carried out continuous shooting overnight in Geography of Military Village Part 5, killing two more civilians and pushing its toll to six. One Thai soldier has died and 18 were wounded, while Cambodia’s government reported nine civilians injured.
This border has been a flashpoint for over a century, with disputes over ancient temples and undemarcated land. In May, a skirmish killed a Cambodian soldier, leading to a major troop buildup. Last month, on October 26, both sides signed a joint peace declaration at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and began withdrawing heavy weapons.
The human cost is steep. Thailand evacuated 438,000 residents from five provinces, and Cambodian authorities moved hundreds of thousands to safety 😔. With communities caught in the crossfire, the pressure to de-escalate is mounting.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that renewed clashes risk undoing months of stabilization work. “Our region cannot afford long-standing disputes to slip into cycles of confrontation,” he said, urging an immediate halt and a return to diplomatic talks.
Ong Tee Keat, former Malaysian transport minister, notes that relying only on outside pressure offers a temporary fix. He argues that trusted mediators are essential for a lasting solution.
As tensions simmer, the priority is clear: safeguard civilians and bring both sides back to the negotiating table 🙏.
Reference(s):
Thailand-Cambodia conflict intensifies, spreads along disputed border
cgtn.com
