Cambodia on Saturday accused Thai forces of continuing airstrikes on its territory just hours after a ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump, as violence along the long-disputed border displaced nearly half a million people on both sides.
Cambodia’s defence ministry said Thai F-16 fighter jets dropped seven bombs inside Cambodian territory on December 13, claiming the attacks continued despite Trump’s declaration that both countries had agreed to halt hostilities. Cambodian officials said the alleged bombing raised serious concerns about the credibility of the truce.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul defended the military operations, stating that Thai forces would continue action “until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people,” indicating Bangkok’s stance that security concerns remained unresolved.
On Friday, President Trump announced that he had spoken directly with Anutin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, saying both sides had agreed to “cease all shooting effective this evening” and return to a peace framework brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The ceasefire followed renewed fighting that broke out earlier this month along the 800-kilometre border.
The July truce, mediated by the United States, China, and Malaysia under the ASEAN framework, had initially ended five days of clashes. A follow-up declaration in October, endorsed by Trump, aimed to extend the ceasefire and promote regional stability, alongside potential trade cooperation.
Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and suggested that the US and Malaysia could help determine responsibility for the December 7 clashes. He stressed that Cambodia remained open to international verification.
Anutin, meanwhile, said Thailand’s patience had been tested after its soldiers were injured by landmines, adding that the US had separately promised Thailand improved trade benefits unrelated to the border dispute.
The renewed fighting has displaced close to half a million people, with at least 20 deaths reported this week alone, deepening the humanitarian crisis. The reported continuation of airstrikes despite a high-profile ceasefire has cast doubt on the effectiveness of international mediation efforts and raised fresh concerns about stability in Southeast Asia.
