Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand continued to escalate on Tuesday as clashes spread to new sections of their long disputed border. The rising violence has already left ten people dead and forced tens of thousands of residents on both sides to flee their homes in search of safety.
The renewed conflict erupted earlier in the week after both governments accused each other of violating the fragile ceasefire that governs their century old border disagreement. Thailand launched air strikes and deployed tanks on Monday, prompting Cambodia to respond. According to Thailand’s Second Army Region, Cambodian forces fired BM 21 multiple launch rockets into Thai territory beginning early Tuesday morning, leaving Thai forces no choice but to retaliate.
The Thai navy reported that its surveillance teams recently detected Cambodian troops and several weapons installations in a contested coastal zone in Trat province. The discovery has increased concerns that the conflict could expand geographically if the situation remains unstable. Thai media said more than eight hundred schools and several hospitals in border provinces have been forced to temporarily close because of the clashes, disrupting community life and limiting access to public services.
The Thai army confirmed that two additional soldiers were killed on Tuesday, bringing the total military death toll to three in this latest round of fighting. Hundreds of emergency shelters have been set up across multiple provinces, now accommodating more than one hundred twenty five thousand displaced civilians. Officials warned that the number of evacuees could rise if fighting continues.
Cambodia also reported significant casualties. Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the Cambodian military carried out counterattacks after refraining from responding for more than a day to allow civilians in the affected regions to evacuate safely. Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused the Thai military of using heavy artillery, F 16 fighter jets and toxic gas against both Cambodian troops and civilians from Sunday afternoon through early Tuesday. She said seven Cambodian civilians were killed and around twenty others wounded.
Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said more than fifty four thousand residents from border provinces including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Pursat have fled their homes. He added that evacuations continued through Tuesday morning as Thai military operations expanded across multiple locations.
The growing civilian toll has drawn attention from the international community. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the European Union and Malaysia’s prime minister issued appeals urging both sides to show restraint and immediately halt hostilities. They called for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and to protect the safety of civilians caught in the conflict.
Efforts to deescalate the fighting remain uncertain as both countries continue to blame each other for triggering the clashes. Regional observers warn that without dialogue and a reinforced ceasefire mechanism, the conflict risks destabilizing broader security conditions in Southeast Asia.
