Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict Escalates: Thai Soldier Killed in Fresh Military Clashes

Cambodian soldiers in Preah Vihear province (File)

Thailand initiated air strikes against Cambodia on Monday, according to the Thai army, as both nations exchanged accusations regarding the latest outbreak of violence along their contested border, resulting in the death of a Thai soldier.

Following an incident where Cambodian forces fired upon Thai troops early Monday morning in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thai army spokesman Winthai Suvaree stated, "The Army received reports that Thai soldiers were attacked with supporting fire weapons, resulting in one soldier killed and four wounded."

Winthai further confirmed that Thailand had commenced "using aircraft to strike military targets in several areas" in response to the attacks from Cambodian forces.

Cambodia's defense ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata countered that Thai forces launched an assault on Cambodian troops in the border provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey early Monday morning, accusing Thailand of "firing multiple shots with tanks at Tamone Thom temple" and other locations near Preah Vihear temple.

She maintained that Cambodia did not respond with retaliatory action.

Met Measpheakdey, a Cambodian spokesman for the Oddar Meanchey provincial administration, reported gunfire in the vicinity of the centuries-old Tamone Thom and Ta Krabei temples, noting that a "number of villagers who live near the border are fleeing to safety."

Thailand's Second Army Region announced that approximately 35,000 people in Thailand have been evacuated from areas along the Cambodia border since the renewed hostilities began.

The Thai army also claimed that Cambodian forces fired BM-21 rockets toward civilian areas in Buri Ram province, though no casualties were reported.

Both nations confirmed a brief engagement on Sunday, which Thailand's military reported had left two soldiers wounded.

Earlier this summer, five days of confrontations erupted between Thailand and Cambodia, claiming 43 lives and displacing around 300,000 people before a truce was established.

That cessation of hostilities had been mediated in part by the United States, China, and Malaysia, with the latter acting as chair of the regional bloc ASEAN.

In October, US President Donald Trump co-signed a subsequent joint declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, highlighting new trade agreements with the countries after they consented to extend the ceasefire.

However, Thailand suspended the agreement last month following an alleged landmine explosion that injured several soldiers.

The two sides subsequently exchanged accusations of renewed clashes in which Phnom Penh reported a civilian fatality.

The dispute originates from a century-old disagreement over borders mapped during France's colonial rule in the region, with both nations claiming ownership of various boundary temples.