Early Morning Clash Between Thailand and Cambodia on December 8
Cambodia Denies Initiating Shelling
Ceasefire Agreement Signed in October Collapses
Thailand and Cambodia, which had previously signed a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, have once again engaged in armed conflict along their border. The ceasefire reached in October has effectively collapsed as both sides resume hostilities.
Thai residents who fled their homes due to armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia are resting at a shelter in Buriram Province on the 8th (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to Reuters, AP, and The Wall Street Journal on December 8 (local time), the Thai military engaged in a firefight with Cambodian forces in the early morning hours in Ubon Ratchathani Province in northeastern Thailand. The Thai military claimed, "Cambodian forces first shelled Thai territory, and in response, we launched airstrikes on multiple military targets in Cambodia to block further supporting fire."
Local media reported that Thai authorities ordered residents in four border provinces to evacuate and responded by deploying F-16 fighter jets.
In contrast, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense denied initiating the shelling and countered, "Thailand must immediately cease all hostile acts that threaten regional peace and stability." The ministry also claimed that in recent days, the Thai military had continued provocative actions and attacked Cambodian forces in two locations, but Cambodia refrained from retaliation and instead requested a ceasefire.
The Thai military stated that, the previous afternoon, two soldiers were injured by Cambodian rifle fire, and on the morning of December 8, two soldiers were killed and four wounded in further attacks. Cambodian casualties have not yet been confirmed.
The conflict between the two countries began with a small-scale skirmish in the northeastern border area of Thailand in May. Tensions escalated following a landmine explosion near the border in July, resulting in at least 48 deaths and over 300,000 displaced people.
With President Trump's mediation, the two sides signed a ceasefire agreement during the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the end of October. At the time, President Trump boasted that he had "ended eight wars" just eight months into his term, calling it an unprecedented achievement in U.S. history.
Under the ceasefire agreement, both countries agreed to withdraw heavy weapons from the border area and cooperate on landmine removal. However, just two weeks after the agreement, on November 10, a Thai soldier was seriously injured by a landmine in the border region, prompting the Thai government to declare that the agreement was no longer being observed.
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