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Clashes between Thailand and Cambodia along their disputed border caused civilians to flee their homes on December 8, 2025, in Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia. The scene was chaotic, with residents evacuating as fighting intensified.
The Thai military reported casualties, stating that one soldier was killed and eight others wounded in renewed hostilities that began around 5 a.m. local time. Thai forces responded with air strikes targeting Cambodian military sites, after alleged provocations including mobilization of heavy weapons and repositioning of combat units by Cambodia — actions that Thailand sees as escalation efforts.
Cambodian authorities claimed that Thai forces launched dawn attacks at two locations following days of provocative behavior, though Cambodian troops did not retaliate. Ex-Cambodian leader Hun Sen, father of Prime Minister Hun Manet, accused Thailand of aggression and urged Cambodian forces to exercise restraint, emphasizing that responses to perceived threats were already defined.
Casualties included three civilians wounded in the fighting, while the Cambodian Defense Ministry maintained its forces had not responded with further aggression. Past disputes over un-demarcated border points—territory boundary lines not clearly marked—have fueled tensions for over a century, often leading to skirmishes. The recent escalation follows a period of relative calm after a ceasefire brokered by regional leaders and previously signed peace agreements in Kuala Lumpur.
Regional officials, including ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim, called for maximum restraint to prevent further instability that could jeopardize efforts to stabilize relations. Despite the threat of open conflict, cross-border air strikes remain a rare occurrence in Southeast Asia’s recent history.
In affected border districts, thousands of civilians have been evacuated. In Thailand, over 385,000 residents from four districts are being moved from danger zones, with more than 35,000 currently sheltered in temporary locations. Across the border in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey Province, authorities reported evacuations involving more than 1,100 families amid ongoing artillery exchanges and artillery shelling, which had already injured several civilians earlier in the week.
The long-standing border dispute largely stems from unclear boundaries established during French colonial rule over Cambodia in 1907. Armed clashes have erupted sporadically since, including a weeklong artillery exchange in 2011. Recent tensions escalated after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a brief exchange in May, leading to diplomatic spats and increased military activity on both sides.
The recent outbreak of hostilities saw Thailand halting its ceasefire efforts following a landmine incident that injured one soldier. Both nations accuse each other of planting mines along the border—a charge Cambodia denies. Some mines identified have likely been laid recently, according to experts analyzing material shared by Thailand’s military.
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