Thailand formally rejects Trump cease-fire claim as fighting enters sixth day
Thailand on Saturday formally rejected President Trump’s announcement that Bangkok and Phnom Penh had agreed to a cease‑fire, with the Thai foreign ministry and Prime Minister Anutin saying no truce exists and that military operations will continue until threats stop. The clashes entered a sixth day of cross‑border shelling and Thai airstrikes (including F‑16s and naval operations) and Cambodian BM‑21 rocket fire — each side blames the other for starting the violence — leaving at least 20 people dead and more than half a million people displaced amid large evacuations along the roughly 500‑mile border.
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump said he spoke with Thailand’s PM Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet and that both agreed to cease all shooting effective Friday evening and to revert to an earlier peace accord he helped broker; Trump posted the claim publicly.
- Thailand’s government rejected Trump’s claim: the Foreign Ministry said there was no U.S. contact confirming a cease-fire, PM Anutin posted that Thailand would continue military actions until threats cease, and Hun Manet said he spoke with Trump but did not claim an agreement had been reached.
- After six days of renewed clashes, at least 20 people have been killed and more than 500,000 displaced, with hundreds of thousands sheltering in camps (including Buriram’s Chang International Circuit) and widespread school closures.
- Each side accuses the other of firing first: Thailand’s military says Cambodian troops fired initially and that Thai aircraft struck several military targets, while Cambodia’s defense ministry says Thailand attacked first and in some incidents accused Thailand of using F-16s and artillery.
- The fighting has escalated beyond temple flashpoints and included Thai airstrikes and jet fighters, Thai Navy operations (including actions near Trat Province), and Cambodian use of BM-21 multiple‑rocket launchers with reports of rocket strikes damaging homes and residential areas.
- Specific battlefield and civilian impacts: Thailand reported several soldiers killed (some hit by BM-21 shrapnel) and dozens wounded; Thailand accused Cambodia of firing rockets at Sao Thong Chai village in Sisaket Province, injuring four civilians (two critically).
- Context: an earlier July ceasefire brokered by Malaysia and pushed by Trump was formalized at an October regional meeting; Thailand had suspended parts of that October deal after Thai soldiers were injured by land mines, and Thai officials signaled reluctance to accept third‑party mediation.
📊 Relevant Data
In Sisaket Province, Thailand, where recent clashes occurred, 30.2% of the population is Northern Khmer, compared to 2.3% of the total Thai population.
Northern Khmer people — Wikipedia
Thailand's GDP per capita in 2024 was $7,345, while Cambodia's was $2,628, highlighting economic disparities that drive Cambodian migration to Thailand.
Economy of Cambodia vs Thailand compared: GDP & Debt — GeoRank
More than 900,000 Cambodian migrant workers returned from Thailand in mid-2025 amid escalating border conflict.
Nearly 72 % of Returning Migrant Workers Remain Unemployed, Report Finds — Kiri Post
The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute in the Gulf of Thailand stems from overlapping claims defined by Franco-Siamese treaties of 1904 and 1907.
Cambodia–Thailand border dispute — Wikipedia
📰 Sources (8)
Thailand Rejects Trump’s Claim That It Reached a Cease-Fire With Cambodia
New information:
- Thailand’s Foreign Ministry confirmed there is no cease-fire despite Trump’s announcement.
- Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul stated on Facebook that Thailand will continue military actions until threats cease.
- Cambodian PM Hun Manet said he spoke with Trump to find ways to reach a cease-fire but did not claim an agreement was reached.
- Updated toll: at least 20 people killed and more than 500,000 displaced after six days of fighting.
- Specific incident: Thailand accused Cambodia of firing rockets at Sao Thong Chai village in Sisaket Province around 9 a.m. Saturday, injuring four civilians (two critically).
Fighting Persists on Thai-Cambodian Order After Trump’s Cease-Fire Claim
New information:
- Both Thailand and Cambodia said fighting continued along their border on Saturday, contradicting Trump’s earlier cease-fire announcement.
- Cambodia’s Defense Ministry stated Thai F-16s and artillery struck several locations Saturday morning local time.
- Visual context noted evacuations to refugee camps amid the clashes.
Thai, Cambodian leaders agree to renew ceasefire after days of deadly clashes: Trump
New information:
- ThaiPBS data point: at least six Thai soldiers killed were hit by BM-21 rocket shrapnel.
- Thai army northeastern regional command reported residential areas and homes near the border were damaged by Cambodian BM-21 rocket fire.
- Thai army said it destroyed a tall crane atop a hill near the Preah Vihear temple that allegedly held electronic/optical command-and-control devices.
- Operational details: Thailand deployed jet fighters for airstrikes; Cambodia used BM-21 rocket launchers with 30–40 km range.
- Background detail: The original July ceasefire was brokered by Malaysia and pushed by Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges; it was formalized further at an October regional meeting in Malaysia attended by Trump.
Trump says leaders of Thailand, Cambodia agree again to stop fighting
New information:
- Trump says he spoke with Thailand PM Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodia PM Hun Manet and that both agreed to cease all shooting effective Friday evening.
- He says the countries will revert to the earlier peace accord he brokered, crediting Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim's help.
- Direct presidential quote via Truth Social provides the first on‑record claim of a new ceasefire commitment.
Trump says he'll "make a phone call" to stop Cambodia-Thailand clashes
New information:
- President Trump said he will "make a phone call" to stop the renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on both sides to honor October commitments reaffirming the July ceasefire, including removing heavy weapons and coordinating demining.
- Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said there has been no U.S. contact yet and signaled Thailand is unlikely to accept third‑party mediation.
- Updated impacts: about 400,000 people evacuated and ~700 schools closed in Thailand; Cambodia evacuated more than 127,000 with hundreds of schools closed.
- Casualties updated: Thailand reports five soldiers killed and dozens wounded; Cambodia reports seven civilian deaths and 20 wounded.
- AP reporters heard outgoing indirect fire Wednesday; Thailand has used jet fighters for strikes, while Cambodia employs BM‑21 rocket launchers.
- Cambodia withdrew its entire team from the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand over safety concerns.
In Thailand and Cambodia, Taking Shelter (Again) as Fighting Reignites
New information:
- At least 10 people have been killed and nearly two dozen injured in the renewed fighting.
- Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, with evacuees sheltering again at Buriram’s Chang International Circuit stadium.
- Thai Navy said Tuesday it conducted 'military operations' to expel Cambodian forces encroaching on Trat Province, opening a new front near the Gulf of Thailand.
- Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodia on Monday as shelling resumed along parts of the roughly 500-mile border.
- Each side accuses the other of firing first; the clashes have moved beyond the temple areas that were focal points earlier in the year.
Thailand launches airstrikes along Cambodia border as tensions escalate
New information:
- Thai army spokesman Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree told AP that Cambodian troops fired first and that Thai aircraft struck several 'military targets' to suppress supporting fire.
- Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata told AP Thailand attacked first and said Cambodia did not retaliate, urging Thailand to halt military actions.
- Thai officials said a smaller clash on Sunday wounded two Thai soldiers and drew a roughly 20-minute response; Cambodia claimed it did not return fire in that incident either.
- Evacuations included students leaving schools near the border, with families retrieving children, according to footage posted by Cambodia’s Education Ministry.
- Thailand had announced suspension of parts of the October Trump-brokered deal last month after Thai soldiers were injured by land mines in contested areas.