BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, December 8, 2025 — Armed clashes along the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border intensified sharply over the weekend, escalating into high-intensity warfare today, with Thailand launching air strikes and both nations deploying heavy artillery. The renewed violence immediately shattered a fragile ceasefire deal brokered earlier this year, resulting in confirmed military and civilian casualties and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
The conflict, centered in flashpoint areas including those near Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces , marks a dramatic collapse of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord signed just weeks ago. Both sides are trading fierce accusations, placing immense pressure on regional stability and the diplomatic efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Return to High-Intensity Conflict
Fighting, which had been sporadic since last month, reignited significantly on Sunday, December 7, and escalated dramatically on Monday, December 8. The violence saw the immediate use of sophisticated military assets, moving quickly past conventional skirmishes.
Thailand’s military confirmed launching air strikes using fighter jets against Cambodian arms supporting positions, such as those near the Chong An Ma Pass. The Royal Thai Army reported that the action was a necessary response after Cambodian forces allegedly fired shells and rockets at Thai military and civilian areas. Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed the strikes, which it condemned as “brutal and inhumane” attacks, particularly near sacred temple zones.
The flare-up has already proven deadly. A Thai soldier was reported killed and four others were injured in the attacks. On the Cambodian side, authorities stated that at least four Cambodian civilians were killed—including a woman hit by shelling in Preah Vihear province—and more than ten civilians were wounded.
Cambodia claims its forces exercised strategic restraint, asserting they “did not retaliate at all during the two assaults”. The government immediately notified the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and announced plans to request an on-site investigation into the Thai actions, positioning itself as the aggrieved party seeking international justice. Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledged to fully protect Thailand’s sovereignty, stating that military operations would proceed in accordance with the legitimate right to self-defense.
The Failure of the Kuala Lumpur Accord
The immediate return to open conflict stems directly from the failure of a high-profile peace deal negotiated after the intense fighting in July 2025. That previous conflict saw both sides exchange heavy artillery and rockets over five days, killing up to 48 people and displacing over 300,000 civilians.
The expanded Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, signed on October 26 and witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (the current ASEAN Chair), established mechanisms for lasting peace. Key provisions included the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border, joint landmine clearance, and verification by the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
However, the diplomatic breakthrough crumbled quickly. Thailand suspended the agreement on November 11 following a landmine explosion that injured four Thai soldiers patrolling near Preah Vihear. Thai officials alleged the mine was “freshly laid” by Cambodian personnel, constituting a serious breach of good faith and the spirit of the accord. Cambodia vehemently denied planting new mines, maintaining that any explosion was caused by decades-old, residual devices in the undemarcated area.
The conflict’s fate was sealed when the ASEAN Observer Team–Thailand (AOT-TH) released findings confirming that the PMN-2 landmines discovered were newly planted. The report, cited by Thailand, included coordinates placing the mines inside Thai sovereign territory and, most critically, photographic evidence found on a mobile phone abandoned by Cambodian soldiers allegedly showing the mines being emplaced. This evidence provided the necessary rationale for Thailand to halt the deal’s implementation, including the release of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war.
Humanitarian and Economic Repercussions
The renewed fighting has had catastrophic localized effects. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported that the fierce clashes have caused cross-border trade flows to collapse by an estimated 99.5%, equating to a loss of hundreds of millions of baht daily.
Furthermore, the humanitarian crisis has deepened. The Thai government has been forced to evacuate approximately 35,000 residents from four border provinces to temporary shelters. This latest displacement compounds the immense suffering caused by the July conflict, which displaced an estimated 300,000 people on both sides of the border.
The instability has also created geopolitical ripples. The latest violence reportedly stalled ongoing trade negotiations between Thailand and the United States, with the US Trade Representative (USTR) asking Thailand to halt the process, linking tariff talks to the handling of the border conflict.
With military units entrenched, nationalist rhetoric escalating, and no immediate diplomatic channel emerging to replace the now-defunct peace accord, observers warn that the failure to resolve the fundamental ambiguity of the 1907 Franco-Siamese Agreement continues to guarantee that localized friction will rapidly spiral into large-scale interstate conflict.
