The civilian death toll in the renewed Cambodia–Thailand border conflict rose to six on Tuesday after two more Cambodian civilians were killed during overnight firing, according to the Cambodian Defence Ministry. The ministry said the victims were travelling on a national road when Thai troops allegedly continued firing through Monday night into early Tuesday.
Officials in Phnom Penh said attacks had continued since 4.45 a.m. on Tuesday in areas along Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Pursat provinces. The escalation comes less than two months after both nations signed a joint peace declaration aimed at easing tensions along contested stretches of the border.
The fresh clashes triggered evacuations across multiple provinces as artillery fire was reported in several pockets. Each side has accused the other of initiating the latest outbreak of violence, while confirming their own casualties.
The Thai Army said on Monday that two of its soldiers were killed and four injured in what it described as Cambodian attacks. Thai Army Spokesperson Winthai Suvaree said the clash took place around 7 a.m. in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen District, where troops came under fire from “supporting fire weapons.” Earlier, a skirmish was reported around 5.05 a.m. in the nearby Chong An Ma area, prompting Thai forces to respond under the rules of engagement.
The Royal Thai Air Force later confirmed that it had launched air operations targeting Cambodian military infrastructure. RTAF spokesperson Jackkrit Thammavichai said the action was taken in response to what Thailand assessed as a direct threat to national security.
Cambodian officials rejected the claim of initiating hostilities. Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said Thai forces launched attacks around 5.04 a.m. on Monday in the An Ses area of Preah Vihear province. She added that tanks were used to fire on areas near Tamoan Thom temple, 5 Makara, locations surrounding Preah Vihear temple and the Chomka Chek area.
Socheata said the assaults followed what she described as earlier provocative acts by Thai forces, including an incident on Sunday at Prorlean Thmar. She stated that Cambodian forces “did not retaliate at all” during the two attacks and that Cambodia continues to monitor the situation with caution while maintaining its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
The Cambodian side has formally notified the ASEAN Observer Team and plans to request an investigation into the latest exchanges.
