Continued Violence Amid Ceasefire Negotiations Between Thailand and Cambodia

Fri Dec 26 2025 18:36:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As ceasefire talks progress, Thailand conducts air strikes in a disputed border area with Cambodia, leading to accusations of civilian harm and escalating tensions.

Thailand has launched air strikes on a Cambodian border region as both nations engage in ceasefire discussions. This latest attack follows a return to hostilities after a previous ceasefire, with claims of civilian casualties and increasing death tolls on both sides. Negotiators are pushing for a resolution amid ongoing military engagements.

Thailand carried out air strikes on a disputed border area with Cambodia on Friday, as officials from both sides continued talks to try to end fighting.

The Thai Air Force said it had hit a Cambodian fortified military position after civilians had left the area. Cambodia's defence ministry accused Thailand of indiscriminate attacks against civilian houses and injuring several people.

Fighting broke out again earlier this month after a fragile ceasefire in July halted five days of intense border clashes. At least 41 people have been killed and almost one million displaced since the hostilities resumed.

Both countries have blamed each other for the breakdown of the truce. Since then, fighting has spread to nearly every province along the 500-mile (800km) border. Cambodia's defence ministry said Friday's attacks were in the north-western Banteay Meanchey province. Up to 40 bombs were dropped by F-16 fighter jets, the ministry said in a Facebook post.

Thailand said the action was aimed at controlling Nong Chan village and was carried out efficiently and successfully. It came as Thai and Cambodian negotiators held their third day of talks at a border checkpoint. Defence ministers from both sides are due to join the discussions on Saturday.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed hope that an agreement could be reached. I hope this time will be the last one we'd have to sign, so that peace can occur in the area, he said, [and] people can return to their homes. The US and China are also attempting to mediate a new ceasefire.

The long-standing dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back over a century, with various clashes resulting in both military and civilian casualties. Tensions escalated after a Cambodian soldier was killed in May, followed by a serious outbreak of violence in July stemming from cross-border hostilities.