Clashes at Thai-Cambodia Border Force Thousands to Flee

Mon Dec 08 2025 18:27:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Recent violent clashes between Thailand and Cambodia along the border have escalated tensions, leading to mass evacuations as residents seek safety amidst the conflict.

Fierce confrontations erupted on Monday at the Thai-Cambodia border, resulting in at least five deaths and prompting thousands to evacuate. Both countries accuse each other of instigating the violence, marking one of the most serious confrontations since a ceasefire was agreed upon earlier this year. The clashes have disrupted education for children in the region, leading to widespread concern about their future amidst ongoing violence.

Residents on both sides of Thailand's and Cambodia's border evacuated in droves on Monday as fresh clashes erupted, killing at least five people.

Both sides have each accused the other of starting the violence, which is the most serious confrontation between the two countries since they agreed to a ceasefire in July.

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that his country never wanted violence but would use necessary means to preserve its sovereignty, while Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen accused Thai invaders of provoking retaliation.

Declining tensions have resulted in more than 40 deaths since May, coupled with import bans and travel restrictions.

During Monday's encounter, the Thai army said its troops responded to Cambodian fire in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani Province by launching air strikes along the disputed border, while Phnom Penh's defense ministry claimed the Thai forces attacked first, in Cambodia's Preah Vihear province.

The conflict has significantly impacted local children, leaving them with disrupted educational opportunities. Several reports indicated that around 650 schools in five Thai provinces were ordered to shut for safety reasons, further endangering the educational environment.

Looking back at the ongoing disputes rooted in a century-old border disagreement between Thailand and Cambodia, this latest escalation highlights the fragility of the ceasefire agreements previously brokered.