Thai Airstrikes Hit Cambodia as Border Conflict Reignites

By Robert Birsel

Reporter

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Thailand launched airstrikes against Cambodian forces on their disputed border on Monday after a flare-up in fighting that they blamed each other for starting.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump claimed credit for a ceasefire on July 28 that ended days of deadly clashes between the neighbors. The renewed clashes are the most serious breaches of the peace terms since then.

While both of the Southeast Asian countries maintain good relations with both the United States and China, Thailand is a non-NATO ally of the U.S. while China is particularly close to Cambodia.

What To Know

A Thai army spokesman said Cambodian forces had launched attacks on Sunday on the border in Thailand’s Sisaket province and clashes had broken out in several more areas of their 500-mile border on Monday.

One Thai soldier was killed and four were wounded.

“The Thai side has begun using aircraft to attack military targets in several areas to deter attacks by Cambodian military fire support weapons,” the Thai army said in a statement.

Cambodian forces had fired a BM-21 multiple rocket launcher into civilian area of Buriran province but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The Cambodian defense ministry said the Thai assertion that the Cambodian side had stated the fighting was false.

“The Thai military has launched its attack on the Cambodian military on the morning of December 8, 2025, since 5 a.m. The action comes after the Thai military had been acting for countless days…with the intent to provoke the clashes,” the Cambodian ministry said.

It said that “in the spirit of respecting all agreed agreements and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law,” Cambodia had not retaliated and it called on an observer mission from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which both countries are members of, to investigate the flare-up “to find the truth and ensure transparency, justice and fairness.”

Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who retains immense power over the government and ministry, said Thailand was intent on drawing the Cambodian side into conflict to destroy the July ceasefire.

“All frontline forces need to be patient because the invaders are using all kinds of weapons firing at us since yesterday, last night and this morning in order to pull us into retaliation to destroy this ceasefire,” Hun Sen said in a statement on his Facebook page.

He said Cambodian commanders had set “a red line to respond.” He did not elaborate but said he had canceled other engagements to be with the prime minister, his son, Hun Manet, who is commanding Cambodian forces.

The long-standing dispute between the countries over their border, largely mapped by France when it ruled Cambodia, was reignited in May after an exchange of gunfire that killed a Cambodian soldier.

This escalated into clashes in July before talks in Malaysia led to a ceasefire on July 28 which Trump claimed credit for as he touted the impact of sanctions' threats.

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What People Are Saying

The Thai army said: “The Thai side responded in accordance with the rules of force and is expediting support for the evacuation of citizens in border areas.”

The Cambodian defense ministry said: “Cambodian forces did not return fire and are continuing to monitor the development with the utmost care and care.”

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.

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