The most serious fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border in over a decade has reignited, shattering a months-long ceasefire and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians from contested frontier areas. In the latest escalation that began on December 7, 2025, Thai and Cambodian forces have exchanged artillery fire and airstrikes, with each side accusing the other of violating the truce agreement brokered earlier in the year.
Intense clashes resumed on December 7 and 8, 2025, marking a severe breakdown of the ceasefire that had been in place since July. According to a detailed timeline released by the Thai government, the violence began when Cambodian forces allegedly opened small-arms fire on Thai soldiers near Phu Pha Lek in Si Sa Ket province, wounding two. The following day, Thai authorities reported that Cambodian forces targeted areas including Buriram Airport and a hospital in Surin province with indirect fire. In response, Thailand launched airstrikes using F-16 fighter jets, stating it was targeting Cambodian military facilities to "cripple Cambodia’s military capacity". The Cambodian Defense Ministry, however, stated its forces were "strictly adhering" to the ceasefire and accused Thailand of attacking civilian communities. The renewed combat has led to mass evacuations, with Thailand opening hundreds of temporary shelters in border provinces.
The current crisis has its immediate roots in a major escalation that began on July 24, 2025. That bout of fighting, which spread across at least 12 border locations, involved heavy artillery, rocket attacks, and Thai airstrikes. The clashes resulted in at least 48 deaths, mostly civilians, and displaced over 300,000 people. A ceasefire was brokered on July 28 in Kuala Lumpur, facilitated by Malaysia and encouraged by the United States and China. The agreement was strengthened on October 26 in a ceremony attended by U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the peace was fragile, with Thailand halting implementation of the pact in November following a landmine incident, and minor skirmishes setting the stage for December's full-scale resurgence.
The border conflict is a longstanding one, stemming from ambiguities in maps drawn during the French colonial era in the early 20th century. The heart of the dispute revolves around ancient temple complexes, most prominently the Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia, but the status of the surrounding land was left unclear, creating a persistent flashpoint. Tensions flared again in 2008 when Cambodia successfully registered the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage site, leading to a series of clashes between 2008 and 2011. The current conflict mirrors these historical tensions, with both nations making claims over specific hills, peaks, and temples along the frontier. Analysts note that domestic political pressures and nationalist sentiments in both countries often fuel the border tensions.
The human cost of the conflict continues to rise. Casualty reports from both sides, which are often disputed, indicate dozens of military and civilian deaths since May. The fighting has caused massive displacement, with over 300,000 civilians forced to flee their homes during the July clashes alone. Thailand has evacuated hundreds of thousands from border provinces, while Cambodia has reported tens of thousands displaced. The international community has repeatedly called for restraint. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session in July, and the current ASEAN chair, Malaysia, has urged a return to diplomacy. The United States and China, which have respective ties to Thailand and Cambodia, have also been involved in urging de-escalation and supporting ceasefire efforts.