Bangkok: Intense clashes continue along the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border, even after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that both nations had agreed to a ceasefire. The announcement, made via social media, claimed that hostilities had ceased, but reports from the ground indicate otherwise, with both sides continuing military operations in contested areas. The gap between official statements and reality has raised doubts about the effectiveness of diplomatic interventions and the prospects for immediate peace.
Cambodian authorities confirmed that Thai forces were still carrying out airstrikes and artillery shelling within disputed border zones. The Ministry of Information in Phnom Penh stated that Thai bombardments and ground incursions persisted hours after Trump’s declaration. Cambodian officials emphasized that civilian areas remained at risk, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian implications of the clashes. Meanwhile, Thailand dismissed the U.S. claim, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul clarifying that no formal ceasefire agreement had been reached. Thai officials accused Cambodian forces of targeting Thai villages and planting mines along strategic border sectors charges Phnom Penh firmly denied.
This flare-up marks the most severe escalation since a previous ceasefire in July, which was reaffirmed at a regional summit in Malaysia in October. The temporary peace was undermined in November after a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine, prompting Thailand to suspend the truce. Cambodia rejected Thailand’s allegations regarding recent mine-laying, intensifying mutual mistrust. The renewed clashes demonstrate the fragility of peace efforts and the complexity of resolving century-old border disputes.
The conflict centers on long-standing territorial claims, particularly near historic sites such as the Preah Vihear temple. The 817-kilometer frontier has frequently witnessed military engagements, with both countries deploying artillery, rockets, and fighter aircraft in the latest confrontation. Casualty reports indicate significant losses among soldiers and civilians, while thousands have been displaced from affected border communities, adding a pressing humanitarian dimension to the crisis.
President Trump’s intervention, while aiming to mediate the dispute, has been met with skepticism. Neither Bangkok nor Phnom Penh officially acknowledged the ceasefire in subsequent statements, highlighting the limitations of external influence over deeply entrenched bilateral conflicts. Analysts have warned that unilateral pronouncements risk oversimplifying the complex historical and political factors that fuel the confrontation.
International observers and regional organizations have urged restraint and renewed dialogue. Yet, the persistence of hostilities underscores the difficulty of enforcing peace through diplomatic declarations alone. As both nations continue to mobilize troops and military assets, the coming days are critical in determining whether negotiations can overtake battlefield realities, or if the conflict will escalate further, exacerbating regional instability and humanitarian suffering.