Tensions flared once again along the Thai-Cambodian border as Thailand accused Cambodia of launching an overnight assault in breach of a newly agreed ceasefire aimed at ending days of deadly cross-border fighting.
According to Thailand’s foreign ministry, troops stationed in Sisaket province came under sustained fire from Cambodian forces on Tuesday night, with reports of small arms and grenade attacks continuing into Wednesday morning.
“This represents a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement,” read a statement from the ministry.
The accusations come just a day after the two neighbours formally agreed to a truce following five days of clashes that left at least 43 people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 300,000 residents from the border region. The fighting, rooted in a long-running territorial dispute, erupted into full-scale combat along sections of the 800-kilometre frontier.
Government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab acknowledged the overnight violence but insisted Thai forces had maintained control. “The Thai side maintained control of the situation,” he said in a statement, adding that “general conditions along the border are reported to be normal” as of 8 am Wednesday.
Cambodia has denied violating the ceasefire, which was brokered in Malaysia with diplomatic pressure from US President Donald Trump. Both Thailand and Cambodia are actively seeking to finalise a trade agreement with the US in a bid to avoid steep tariffs threatened by Washington.
Thailand accuses Cambodia of continuing offensive actions
Although the ceasefire officially came into effect in the early hours of Tuesday, Thailand had already accused Cambodia of continuing offensive actions, calling them “a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust”. Despite this rocky start, relative calm had appeared to return by Tuesday afternoon.
As part of the agreement, military commanders from both sides held scheduled meetings at the border, where they reportedly agreed on measures to de-escalate tensions, including a freeze on troop movements that could be misinterpreted as hostile.
However, the Thai government warned that the situation remained precarious. Maratee Nalita Andamo, a spokesperson for Bangkok’s border crisis centre, said: “In this moment, in the early days of the ceasefire, the situation is still fragile.”
The death toll from the recent clashes includes at least 15 Thai troops and 15 Thai civilians. Cambodia, meanwhile, has confirmed the deaths of eight civilians and five soldiers, although officials in Phnom Penh have been more reserved in their casualty reporting.
The ongoing border conflict, fuelled by historical grievances and contested territorial claims, continues to test diplomatic relations between the two Southeast Asian nations, despite regional efforts to foster stability.
