Fighting continues on Thai–Cambodian border despite Trump-announced cease-fire
Despite President Trump’s announcement that Thai and Cambodian leaders had agreed to a cease‑fire, fighting continued along the roughly 500‑mile border, with each side accusing the other of opening hostilities. Thailand launched airstrikes and used jet fighters while Cambodia employed BM‑21 rocket launchers and other indirect fire, in clashes that have killed at least 10, wounded dozens, damaged homes and schools, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
📌 Key Facts
- Fighting along the roughly 500-mile Thai–Cambodian border continued even after President Trump announced he had spoken with both leaders and that they agreed to a cease-fire; both countries nonetheless reported exchanges of fire the following days.
- Each side accuses the other of firing first — Thai officials (including a Thai army spokesman) said Cambodian troops fired first and that Thailand struck military targets in response, while Cambodia’s defense ministry said Thailand attacked first and urged it to stop.
- Heavy weapons and air power have been used: Thailand reported airstrikes using jet fighters and F-16s, the Thai Navy said it conducted operations near Trat Province opening a new front by the Gulf of Thailand, and Cambodia has used BM-21 rocket launchers (reported range ~30–40 km); AP reporters and others heard indirect fire during clashes.
- Casualties and damage are significant and reports vary by source: at least around a dozen people have been killed and dozens wounded (Thai and Cambodian officials give differing counts, including several Thai soldiers killed—some reportedly hit by BM‑21 shrapnel—and civilian deaths in Cambodia); residential areas and homes near the border have been damaged.
- Mass displacement and disruption: hundreds of thousands have fled (one update cites about 400,000 evacuated in Thailand and more than 127,000 in Cambodia), with hundreds of schools closed in both countries and evacuees sheltering in locations such as Buriram’s Chang International Circuit stadium and refugee camps.
- Specific operational claims include Thailand saying it destroyed a tall crane near the Preah Vihear temple that it alleged was hosting electronic/optical command-and-control equipment; clashes have moved beyond temple focal points earlier in the year.
- Diplomatic reactions: Trump said he would call and later claimed both prime ministers agreed to stop shooting and revert to an earlier peace accord (crediting Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim for help); U.S. officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged both sides to honor commitments to remove heavy weapons and coordinate demining, while Thailand said it had not yet been contacted by the U.S. and signaled reluctance to accept third‑party mediation.
- Regional and civilian impacts include Cambodia withdrawing its team from the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand over safety concerns and widespread school closures and evacuations across both countries.
📊 Relevant Data
The overlapping claims area in the Gulf of Thailand between Thailand and Cambodia contains estimated natural gas reserves worth at least $300 billion, which has been a point of negotiation and potential conflict between the two countries.
Thailand eyes $300 billion gas field frozen by Cambodia dispute — World Oil
Among returned Cambodian migrant laborers from Thailand, 57% have some primary education and 36% have some secondary education, indicating lower educational attainment compared to the Thai population where the literacy rate is over 94%.
Demographic and Economic Profile of Returned Migrant Labourers — Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI)
Thailand's border trade with Cambodia dropped 22.2% in September 2025 due to border issues, highlighting the economic interdependence and stakes in maintaining open borders.
Border shutdown batters 6 Northeast provinces, trade losses seen at B4bn daily — Nation Thailand
📰 Sources (7)
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.