Thailand continues to attack Cambodia after ASEAN peace effort falters

A Cambodian Mine Action Centre official examines the crash site of a Thai military drone. CMAC

#National

Synopsis: Amid hopes for a ceasefire on the Cambodian side, Thailand intensifies shelling and air strikes on highly populated residential areas.

A day before the General Border Committee meets to discuss a ceasefire, Thailand intensified shelling on Cambodian border provinces, including populated areas, escalating the conflict in a bid to strengthen its position before peace negotiations commence.

One of the hardest-hit targets yesterday was Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet City, a bustling business hub, the largest border crossing, and one of the most populated areas neighbouring Thailand.

Cambodia and Thailand had agreed on Monday to convene the Joint General Border Committee (GBC) today to discuss a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This was reached at the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the Current Situation between Cambodia and Thailand, held in Kuala Lumpur the same day. However, the two nations have yet to agree on the venue, as Bangkok insisted on hosting the meeting in Chanthaburi province, while Cambodia asked that it be held in a third country, in Kuala Lumpur, citing security concerns stemming from fighting along the border.

Since fighting erupted on December 7, Thailand has rejected calls from the international community, including the US, the EU and ASEAN, for a ceasefire. Instead, it has intensified airstrikes and the bombardment of border towns and cities, killing 21 Cambodian civilians and injuring 83 others. About 550,000 people have been forced to flee the attacks as of yesterday.

For Thailand to consider stopping hostilities, it said Cambodia must first declare a ceasefire, which must be “sincere, verifiable and sustained”, and cooperate in joint demining efforts along the border. Thailand has also refused to withdraw its troops from land it illegally occupied during the invasion.

Ministry of National Defence spokeswoman Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said Thai military forces yesterday launched a series of artillery shelling and aerial bombings targeting civilian areas in several provinces.

She said that between 10.38am and 10.40am, Thai forces fired three artillery shells into a residential area in Kon Damrei, Nimit commune, Poipet City.

At 1.37pm, the Thai military continued shelling, firing four rounds into a densely populated residential area in Stoeng Bot village, Phsar Kandal commune of Poipet. This was followed at 2.07pm by an additional artillery round fired into the same civilian area in Stoeng Bot village.

Lt Gen Socheata added that from 2.30pm to 3.10pm, Thai forces deployed F-16 fighter jets to conduct aerial strikes, dropping six bombs in the area of Koul 8, Sra Em commune, Choam Khsant district, Preah Vihear province.

At 3.25pm, Thai military units again fired multiple artillery shells into a densely populated residential area in O’ Chrov district, Poipet City, Banteay Meanchey province.

The shelling continued at 4.10pm, when Thai forces fired 10 more artillery shells into the same civilian areas.

The ministry expressed grave concern over the repeated attacks on civilian areas and reiterated its call for respect for international humanitarian law, particularly the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“The Cambodian forces continue to monitor the situation closely and stand strong, brave and vigilant in fulfilling their duties to protect the territorial integrity of Cambodia. We will protect our dignity with courage and unwavering resolve, at any cost, and without succumbing to coercion or intimidation in any form,” she said.

The Ministry of Interior reported yesterday severe humanitarian and infrastructure impacts on civilian areas following what it called acts of aggression by the Thai side.

It said that between 7am and 1pm yesterday, various types of munitions were fired into civilian areas. While no new civilian deaths or injuries were reported during that six-hour period, 21 civilians have died and 83 others injured since December 7.

The ministry said large-scale displacement remains one of the most serious consequences of the conflict, with 547,909 people forced from their homes, including 286,992 women and 175,057 children. It warned that the figures could rise as the situation evolves.

Yesterday saw the destruction of one more home in Banteay Meanchey province and another government office building in Battambang province. Since December 7, more than 100 houses, schools, health centres, religious sites, government buildings, markets, bridges, roads, vehicles and other public and private facilities have been bombed.

The ministry noted that while Cambodian forces were defending the country’s territorial integrity, the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the situation between Cambodia and Thailand concluded with a statement highlighting prospects for resuming the ceasefire and returning to the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Declaration for peace. It said it supported ASEAN’s call for continued efforts to end hostilities and welcomed preparations for the General Border Committee today to discuss the implementation and verification of a ceasefire.

The ministry said it remained hopeful that the Thai side would demonstrate sincerity in implementing the ceasefire in line with ASEAN’s objectives.

It praised the unity of Cambodians in supporting defence efforts led by Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet, saying national solidarity has strengthened the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and border protection police as they defend the country.

US President Donald Trump, for the first time, acknowledged stated that Thailand was responsible for the renewed hostilities with Cambodia, after both sides signed the Kuala Lumpur peace accord on October 26, an event he witnessed

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Trump said: “But, you know, I’ve solved eight wars, and Thailand is starting to shape up. You know, they started with Cambodia; they started up again.”

He added: “But there’s a lot of hatred between those two people, and when there’s hatred, there’s, you know.”

In response, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday rejected claims that Thailand had initiated the conflict.

He said he was not concerned about the remarks, stressing that countries involved in peace discussions have maintained a neutral stance and that he has not seen any nation take sides. He added that the issue must be resolved conclusively through direct engagement between Thailand and Cambodia.

On Trump’s statement that Thailand had attacked Cambodia first, Anutin said the facts were clear and that there was no cause for concern. He maintained that Thailand was the side that had been invaded and attacked first, and that Thailand’s actions were retaliatory measures to protect its sovereignty.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn informed ASEAN foreign ministers that as a country that treasures peace above all, Cambodia has done everything within its capacity to fully preserve the July ceasefire and October Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration.

He said that as a sign of Cambodia’s respect for the ceasefire, it had refrained from responding for more than 24 hours after being attacked on December 7.

He recalled his disappointment that several ceasefire proposals put forward by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Trump had failed to materialised even though Cambodia had accepted them all without hesitation.

He called on Malaysia and the United States to deploy equipment and personnel, including satellite assets, to monitor and verify the border situation.

Sokhonn added that Cambodia’s primary objective remains ending the suffering of its people, preventing further destruction and pursuing a peaceful path towards a fair and lasting solution. He reaffirmed the importance of upholding ASEAN’s credibility as one of the world’s most successful regional organisations, with the capacity to assist its member states in resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, including through the renunciation of the threat or use of force.

The Philippines, the incoming chair of ASEAN, said on Monday that it was ready to act as a mediator between Thailand and Cambodia.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro made the remarks at the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur to address the escalation of fighting between the two member states.

“Following the discussions today, the Philippines said that it is prepared to assume the role of facilitator or mediator between Cambodia and Thailand should both parties decide to make use of the good offices of the Chair once the Philippines assumes the chairmanship in January 2026,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

-Khmer Times-