Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict Continues Despite Trump's Ceasefire Claims

Approximately two dozen fatalities have been officially documented in the past week's border conflict.

Combat operations continued Saturday morning along the Thailand-Cambodia border, despite US President Donald Trump's announcement as mediator that he had secured a ceasefire agreement from both nations.

Thai officials have denied agreeing to any ceasefire, while Cambodia has remained silent regarding Trump's assertion. Instead, Cambodia's defense ministry reported Thai aircraft conducting airstrikes Saturday morning. Cambodian media outlets mentioned Trump's claim without further elaboration.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated Saturday that some of Trump's comments did not "reflect an accurate understanding of the situation."

"We regret and we're disappointed that certain points made by President Trump have bearing upon the feeling of the Thai people, Thailand, because we consider ourselves - we are proud, in fact - to be the oldest treaty ally of the United States in the region," he remarked.

The current escalation began with a December 7 clash that injured two Thai soldiers, undermining a ceasefire promoted by Trump that had previously halted five days of fighting in July over long-contested territorial disputes.

The July ceasefire was negotiated by Malaysia and implemented through pressure from Trump, who threatened to withdraw trade benefits unless Thailand and Cambodia reached an agreement. This arrangement was formalized with greater detail during an October regional meeting in Malaysia attended by Trump.

Official reports indicate around two dozen casualties from the past week's conflict, with hundreds of thousands displaced on both sides of the border.

Thai military sources acknowledge 11 troop fatalities while estimating 165 Cambodian soldier deaths. Cambodia has not disclosed military casualties but reported at least 11 civilian deaths and 76 injuries.

On Friday, following conversations with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Trump announced an agreement to reinstate the ceasefire.

"They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim," Trump declared in his Truth Social post.

Trump's announcement came after midnight in Bangkok. Prime Minister Anutin had previously stated after his call with Trump that he explained Thailand's justification for fighting and indicated peace would depend on Cambodia first halting its attacks. The Thai foreign ministry later explicitly contradicted Trump's ceasefire claim. Anutin's schedule on Friday included dissolving Parliament to facilitate early elections next year.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, in statements posted early Saturday, made no reference to any ceasefire.

He confirmed telephone discussions on Friday night with Trump and the previous night with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, expressing gratitude to both "for their continuous efforts to achieve a long-lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand."

"Cambodia is ready to cooperate in any way that is needed," Hun Manet wrote.

Thailand has been conducting airstrikes against what it identifies as exclusively military targets, while Cambodia has launched thousands of medium-range BM-21 rockets causing widespread disruption but relatively few casualties.

BM-21 rocket launchers can discharge up to 40 rockets simultaneously with a range of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles). These weapons lack precision targeting capabilities and have primarily impacted areas from which most residents have been evacuated.

Nevertheless, the Thai army reported Saturday that BM-21 rockets had struck a civilian area in Sisaket province, seriously wounding two civilians who had heard warning sirens and were running toward a shelter for protection.