Renewed Cambodia-Thailand clashes threaten fragile truce

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 15:13

Fresh clashes between Cambodia and Thailand along their disputed border have reignited tensions and threatened the US-co-brokered ceasefire, with both sides trading blame after a landmine blast and gunfire left several people wounded.

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Civilians in Prey Chan village of Ou Beychoan commune, Ou Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, are seen here attempting to escape clashes, November 12, 2025. (Cambodian Ministry of Information)

Tensions flared again along the Cambodia-Thailand frontier on Wednesday as both countries accused each other of violating the fragile peace agreement brokered by the US, China, and Malaysia. The latest clashes erupted just days after Bangkok announced it was suspending the implementation of the accord following a landmine blast that injured four Thai soldiers.

Officials in both nations confirmed gunfire near Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province and Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province. Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said "Thai soldiers opened fire on civilians," citing local reports that at least five people were wounded.

The Royal Thai Army, however, blamed Cambodia for firing first. Army Spokesperson Winthai Suvaree said, "Cambodian soldiers fired shots into Thai territory… our troops took cover and fired warning shots in response," adding that the exchange lasted about ten minutes before calm was restored and that "no Thai casualties were reported."

Cambodia’s Information Ministry released photos and videos showing injured civilians, including one man with a bloodied leg being treated in an ambulance, though the authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified, according to AFP.

ព័ត៌មានបន្ទាន់៖ ទាហានថៃបានបើកការបាញ់ប្រហារមកលើប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនៅភូមិព្រៃចាន់ ឃុំអូរបីជាន់ ស្រុកអូរជ្រៅ ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ… pic.twitter.com/mp9RicY1iz
— Ministry of Information ក្រសួងព័ត៌មាន (@MinistryofInfo1) November 12, 2025

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as bullets struck near their villages. Cambodian villager Hul Malis told AFP by phone, "They just shot at us. We did nothing. I am so frightened, I am running away now." Her husband, Thong Kimleang, said the Thai military "fired a lot of shots for around 15 minutes."

Border Truce Collapses

The latest incident comes amid a century-old territorial dispute over border demarcations drawn during French colonial rule. Both nations lay claim to several ancient temple complexes straddling the frontier, and the issue has sparked repeated confrontations in recent decades.

In July, fighting broke out across the same region, involving airstrikes, artillery, and ground forces. That conflict left 43 people dead and forced some 300,000 residents from their homes before a ceasefire was reached on July 29.

The truce, co-mediated by Trump, Chinese diplomats, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, called for both sides to pull back heavy weaponry and allow international monitors along the border. Although it halted large-scale hostilities, analysts warned it did not resolve the underlying sovereignty dispute.

The new skirmish and Thailand’s decision to postpone the release of 18 captured Cambodian soldiers, a key term of the joint declaration, now cast serious doubt over the future of the peace process. The renewed violence underscores how quickly the uneasy calm can collapse in one of Southeast Asia’s most sensitive border zones.