Deaths mount on fourth day of border fighting between Thailand, Cambodia

al Jazeera:

Deaths mount on fourth day of border fighting between Thailand, Cambodia

Both sides have accused each other of violating international law as they await a promised phone call from Donald Trump

A woman and a child at a refugee camp after evacuation, in Srei Snam, Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on December 10, 2025 [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]

By Alastair McCready and News Agencies
Published On 11 Dec 2025



Renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its fourth day, as deaths rise on both sides, with both countries accusing one another of violating international law as they await a promised phone call from United States President Donald Trump.

Three Thai civilians were killed as heavy combat continued along the country’s border, the Thai military said on Thursday, marking the country’s first civilian fatalities since the fighting resumed. Eight Thai soldiers have also been killed in the fighting so far this week, with 80 more wounded, it said.


Cambodia’s Ministry of the Interior has said the death toll on the Cambodian side of the border stands at 11 civilians, including one infant, while some 75 people have been injured.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence accused the Thai military of carrying out numerous attacks within the country in the early hours of Thursday morning, including deploying tanks and artillery to strike targets in Pursat, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddar Meanchey provinces.

In one such attack, the Cambodian ministry said, Thai soldiers violated international humanitarian law by firing on civilians in Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey.

In another, it accused Thai forces of shelling “into Khnar Temple area”, and said Thai forces “fired artillery and support fire into the O’Smach area”.

“Cambodia urges that Thailand immediately stop all hostile activities and withdraw its forces from Cambodia’s territorial integrity, and avoid acts of aggression that threaten peace and stability in the region,” the Defence Ministry said.


Clashes took place on Wednesday at more than a dozen locations along the contested colonial-era demarcated 817km (508-mile) Thai-Cambodian border, with some of the most intense fighting being reported since a five-day battle in July, which saw dozens killed on both sides.

Cambodia’s Ministry of the Interior said homes, schools, roads, Buddhist pagodas and ancient temples had been damaged by “Thailand’s intensified shelling and F-16 air strikes targeting villages and civilian population centres up to 30km [18.6 miles] inside Cambodian territory”.

“It should be noted that … these brutal acts of aggression of the Thai military indiscriminately opened fire targeting civilian areas, especially schools, and further destroyed Ta Krabey and Preah Vihear temples, the highly sacred cultural sites of Cambodia and the world cultural heritage,” it said.



Thai-Cambodian border clashes force thousands of Cambodians to flee unsafe evacuation camps again


Responding to the accusations, the Thai army said Cambodia had “intentionally” used a historical site as a “military base of operations” and therefore was guilty of violating international law.

“Cambodia intentionally used the ancient site for military operations, as a base to attack Thailand, and deliberately undermined the protection of the ancient site. Thailand retaliated as necessary,” the Thai army said.

Cambodians flee border

Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Lo, reporting from an evacuation camp in Preah Vihear along the Cambodian side of the border, said that more than 5,600 people fled to the camp from the fighting.

“This is an indication that the fighting has not eased between Thai and Cambodian forces,” he added.

Lo said that aid has been distributed in the camp and the facilities are slightly better than other camps in the country.

The evacuees, who talked to Al Jazeera, said that they wanted to return home as soon as possible.

Evacuee Vann Saroeut said the situation was affecting people’s “mental health as they cannot make a living and are not eating enough”.

Horn Hang, another evacuee, said: “My children cannot study properly because the environment here is not conducive; it is also affecting their health.”

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from Surin province in Thailand near the border with Cambodia, said that the frequent sound of artillery fire could be heard in the area because of the exchanges.

He noted that Al Jazeera’s crew had to run from nearby artillery fire as it was moving around in the region.

“We also had to get out of the vehicle and hide under trees from drones,” he said, adding that the use of attack and surveillance drones is a concern for both sides.


Both sides have blamed one another for reigniting the conflict, which began on Monday and has expanded to five provinces across Thailand and Cambodia, according to a tally by the AFP news agency.

More than 500,000 Thai and Cambodian civilians have been forced to flee border areas due to fighting.

It was only on October 26 that Trump presided over the signing of a ceasefire between the Southeast Asian neighbours in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hailing the deal, which was also brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Trump said mediators had done “something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done”.

Optimistic of securing another peace deal, Trump told reporters on Wednesday that “I think I can get them to stop fighting”.

“I think I’m scheduled to speak to them tomorrow,” he added.