On Nov. 13, renewed gunfire along the Thailand–Cambodia border left one civilian dead and three wounded as both militaries blamed the other for initiating the attacks. Cambodia says Thai forces fired twice on border communities; Thailand insists Cambodian troops fired first and that its forces responded with warning shots. The incident follows deadly clashes in July, a Trump-mediated peace deal signed in late October, and Thailand's recent suspension of that agreement after soldiers were wounded by landmines. Phnom Penh is calling for an independent investigation while tensions remain high.
Border Violence Flares on Nov. 13: 1 Civilian Killed, 3 Wounded as Thailand and Cambodia Trade Blame
On Nov. 13, renewed gunfire along the Thailand–Cambodia border left one civilian dead and three wounded as both militaries blamed the other for initiating the attacks. Cambodia says Thai forces fired twice on border communities; Thailand insists Cambodian troops fired first and that its forces responded with warning shots. The incident follows deadly clashes in July, a Trump-mediated peace deal signed in late October, and Thailand's recent suspension of that agreement after soldiers were wounded by landmines. Phnom Penh is calling for an independent investigation while tensions remain high.
03:52 PM, 11/13/2025Conflict
Renewed Clashes Along the Thailand–Cambodia Border
Nov. 13 — At least one civilian was killed and three others were wounded after renewed exchanges of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces along their shared border, officials from both countries said Wednesday.
What happened
Both militaries reported afternoon skirmishes and each side blamed the other for initiating the violence. Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a statement that Thai forces opened fire on Cambodian civilians in border communities, killing one person and wounding three. Phnom Penh's Ministry of Defense published photographs showing soldiers meeting the injured civilians at a hospital and said the Thai military struck twice, at about 3:50 p.m. and again at 5:54 p.m. local time.
"I call on the Thai side to immediately cease the use of force against innocent Cambodian civilians in Prey Chan Village and to refrain from any use of force in addressing border issues between our two countries," Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a statement, urging an independent investigation to hold those responsible to account.
The Royal Thai Army rejected those claims, saying Cambodian troops fired first. In a social media statement the Thai military said, "Cambodia troops opened fire first, more than 30 rounds!" and that Cambodian soldiers fired into Thai territory at about 4:10 p.m. Thailand said its forces fired warning shots and responded "according to the Rules on the Use of Force, taking great care to avoid civilian targets, in order to protect Thai lives and sovereignty."
Background and context
The latest flare-up follows a deadly escalation in July, when clashes along the border killed dozens over five days. That fighting appeared to subside with a temporary halt on July 28 and later a peace agreement signed in late October in Malaysia, where then-U.S. President Donald Trump attended the ceremony. The agreement has since been fragile.
Thailand suspended the peace agreement this week after four Thai soldiers on patrol near the shared border were wounded by landmines; Thai officials say one soldier lost a foot. Thai military officials accused Cambodian forces of tampering with a barbed-wire fence to access Thai territory where mines had been planted in patrolled areas. The Royal Thai Army said Cambodia "fired first, provoked and is not trying to divert attention from its own inhumane landmine attack."
Separately, the U.S. president recently lifted a Biden-era arms embargo on Cambodia, a move that drew criticism from opponents who cite concerns about corruption and repression in the Cambodian government. Cambodia has also nominated the U.S. president for the Nobel Prize.
Outlook
Tensions remain high on both sides of the border as each government continues to trade accusations. Phnom Penh has called for an independent investigation into the Nov. 13 incident; there is no immediate international confirmation of either side's version of events. Observers say a durable resolution will require verified, impartial fact-finding and renewed diplomacy to prevent further civilian harm.