Border hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia have entered a third consecutive day, with violence intensifying near newly contested zones despite concerted calls for a ceasefire. Officials on both sides continue to insist they acted in defense, exchanging blame and pushing for international mediation to stem the bloodshed.
According to military and government sources, more than 30 people have lost their lives so far, and upwards of 130,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes—a scale of displacement unseen in over a decade between the neighboring Southeast Asian nations.
On Saturday, conflicts erupted anew in Thailand’s Trat province, a coastal region roughly 100 kilometers from earlier confrontation sites, marking a significant expansion of the unrest. This recent escalation follows the death of a Cambodian soldier in late May, sparking rapid military reinforcements and triggering a diplomatic crisis that has compounded Thailand’s already fractious political landscape.
Casualty figures continue to mount; Thailand’s losses remain at 19 dead, while Cambodia’s Defense Ministry reports five soldiers and eight civilians killed. Combat has featured heavy artillery, tanks, aircraft, and infantry units since violence flared up on Thursday, drawing urgent attention from the UN Security Council.
The UN convened a closed-door emergency session on Friday to address the situation, with Cambodia advocating for an immediate halt to the conflict, and Thailand calling for renewed bilateral negotiations instead of intervention. Security Council representatives urged both governments to show restraint and prioritize diplomatic dialogue.
Amid the flurry of accusations, Thailand’s UN ambassador claimed that Thai soldiers have suffered injuries from newly deployed land mines on two occasions since mid-July, alleging a Cambodian link—a characterization that Cambodian officials have denied. Thai authorities say that aggression flared again on Thursday with renewed attacks by Cambodian forces.
The Thai representative also told the Security Council that “Thailand condemns in the strongest possible terms Cambodia’s indiscriminate and inhumane attacks” on civilian infrastructure.
“Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith,” Cherdchai Chaivaivid told the council in remarks released to the media.
