Cambodian officials say a villager was killed and three others wounded after gunfire erupted along the Cambodia–Thailand border, raising fears the July ceasefire is collapsing. The incident follows a land-mine injury to a Thai soldier that prompted Thailand to pause parts of the July 28 truce. Leaders from both countries trade blame while villagers shelter in bunkers. The dispute traces back to a contested 1907 colonial-era map and a 1962 ICJ ruling on Preah Vihear temple.
Border Violence Flare-Up: Cambodian Villager Killed as Cambodia–Thailand Ceasefire Frays
Cambodian officials say a villager was killed and three others wounded after gunfire erupted along the Cambodia–Thailand border, raising fears the July ceasefire is collapsing. The incident follows a land-mine injury to a Thai soldier that prompted Thailand to pause parts of the July 28 truce. Leaders from both countries trade blame while villagers shelter in bunkers. The dispute traces back to a contested 1907 colonial-era map and a 1962 ICJ ruling on Preah Vihear temple.
10:58 PM, 11/12/2025Conflict
Border violence flares between Cambodia and Thailand
Cambodian authorities reported that a villager was killed when gunfire erupted Wednesday along the tense border with Thailand, raising concerns that the ceasefire that paused five days of fighting in July may be unraveling.
The reported civilian death came two days after a Thai soldier lost a foot to a land mine while patrolling another section of the frontier. Thailand blamed Cambodian forces for that blast and said it would suspend implementation of parts of the ceasefire that was originally agreed on July 28.
The truce had been reinforced last month after U.S. President Donald Trump warned he might withhold trade privileges from both countries if their clashes continued. Territorial disputes over the precise location of the border sparked five days of armed clashes in late July that left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead.
Leaders and militaries trade blame
Thai leader Anutin Charnvirakul visited front-line troops on Tuesday and told reporters that Thailand had tried to honor the ceasefire but accused Cambodia of delaying progress and taking provocative actions. “Today, we consider that the deal that we made in order to bring peace is now over,” he said.
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura, later clarified that Thailand had not formally withdrawn from the agreement but had paused its implementation.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet posted on Telegram that one civilian was killed and three others wounded when, he says, Thai troops opened fire on people living in Prey Chan in Banteay Meanchey province. He added that the shooting followed days of "provocative actions" by Thai forces and reiterated that Cambodia still accepted the ceasefire terms.
"It should be noted that this attack occurred after the Thai forces engaged in numerous provocative actions for many days with the objective of instigating confrontations," Hun Manet wrote.
The Thai military offered a different account, saying the incident began when Cambodian soldiers allegedly fired into a district in Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo province. "Thai forces took cover and fired warning shots in response, following rules of engagement," army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said. He added the exchange lasted about 10 minutes and there were no Thai casualties.
Villagers caught in the crossfire
A villager from Prey Chan who spoke by phone described a sudden scramble for safety. "When I heard the gunshots, I immediately felt very scared and panicked," said Hul Malis, a mother of four. "I jumped into the bunker for safety. My husband, who was sleeping in the hammock, went into the bunker with me." She said the shelter had been built two months earlier.
Historic roots of the dispute
Thailand and Cambodia share a long history of rivalry dating back centuries, when they were competing empires. The current territorial dispute largely stems from a 1907 map drawn when Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand has argued is inaccurate.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty to Cambodia over an area that includes the roughly 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple — a decision that continues to foment resentment in parts of Thailand.
The current ceasefire does not outline a clear mechanism for resolving the deeper disagreement over the border's course, leaving the underlying issue unsettled and raising the risk of further skirmishes unless diplomatic talks resume in earnest.
Associated Press writer Peck reported from Bangkok.