Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia as Trump’s Peace Agreement hangs in balance
Thailand launched airstrikes against Cambodia on Monday, December 8, as a new wave of fighting erupted between the Southeast Asian neighbors, leaving a peace plan presided over by US President Donald Trump just two months ago in danger of collapse.
Both sides accused the other of launching strikes along their disputed border in the early morning hours, after weeks of simmering tension and the earlier suspension of progress on the ceasefire agreement by Thailand.
The two nations have repeatedly fought brief border skirmishes in recent decades, with a deadly five-day conflict in July leaving dozens dead and displacing about 200,000 on both sides of the frontier.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the country “never wished to see violence,” but would “not allow the violation of its sovereignty.” He added that additional military action would be decided “according to the conditions of the situation,” in apparent reference to further aggression from Cambodia.
Cambodia’s defense ministry condemned the Thai strikes, insisting it remained committed to implementing the previous ceasefire.
Thailand’s army claimed Monday’s airstrikes targeted Cambodian military infrastructure and were retaliation for an attack earlier on Monday that killed a Thai soldier and injured seven people.
Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree stated the target was at Cambodia’s arms supporting positions in the area of Chong An Ma Pass, and accused Cambodia of using “artilleries and mortar launchers to attack the Thai side at Anupong Base.”
Thai military officials claimed Cambodia began targeting the Thai border at around 3 a.m. local time, mobilizing heavy weapons and repositioning combat units.
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) called them “activities that could escalate military operations and pose a threat to the Thai border area.”
However, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense denied the Thai allegations, calling it “false information” in a statement.
The Cambodian army accused Thailand of launching “an attack” on its forces at around 5.04 a.m. local time, noting this attack occurred after the Thai forces engaged in “numerous provocative actions for many days.”
The defense ministry said it “did not retaliate at all.” Spokesperson Maly Socheata later accused Thai forces of burning homes, causing injuries, and “prompting people to flee” from border villages in the northern provinces of Oddar Meanchey and in Preah Vihear.
At least four Cambodian civilians have been killed and several others injured in the two provinces, according to Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra. Thailand began evacuating civilians from affected border towns on Sunday, with about 70% already moved, according to its army.
Following the flare-up earlier this year, which was the most serious fighting in years, an initial ceasefire between the two sides was agreed on July 28 after President Trump held calls with their respective leaders.
Thailand and Cambodia then signed an expanded ceasefire declaration in Kuala Lumpur in late October in a ceremony witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Ibrahim on Monday said he was “deeply concerned by reports of armed clashes” and urged restraint, warning that the renewed fighting risks unravelling the careful work that has gone into stabilizing relations. Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The October ceasefire declaration was viewed by Trump as a major diplomatic victory. However, within less than a fortnight of signing, the agreement began fraying after Thailand said it was halting progress following a landmine explosion at the border that injured several Thai soldiers.
The two countries share a 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border, and the territorial dispute largely stems from a map drawn up by the French when they controlled Cambodia as a colony, which Thailand does not accept.