Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Ceasefire After Deadly Border Clashes
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an "unconditional ceasefire" to halt five days of intense border clashes that killed dozens of people and displaced over 260,000. The fighting, which involved artillery and air strikes, was the worst in over a decade. The deal was brokered during a meeting in Malaysia, with pressure from the United States, which warned that trade deals could be at risk if hostilities continued. Military commanders from both nations are set to meet to de-escalate tensions.
Unpacked:
The conflict stems from poorly defined borders set by the Franco-Siamese treaties of 1904 and 1907, which left areas around ancient temples disputed. Tensions have periodically escalated since, with notable flare-ups in 2008 over the Preah Vihear Temple and other sites, rooted in both colonial-era decisions and nationalist sentiment.
The recent violence was sparked by disputed accounts of military actions near the Ta Moan Thom temple. Both sides accused each other of initiating the conflict—Thailand claims Cambodian soldiers fired first, while Cambodia insists it was responding to an unprovoked Thai incursion.
The clashes killed more than 30 people, including civilians, and forced more than 200,000 people to evacuate from border areas, with some sources citing over 260,000 displaced. Artillery and air strikes caused widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure on both sides.
The United States pressured both countries to halt hostilities, warning that ongoing conflict could jeopardize trade deals. The ceasefire was brokered during a meeting in Malaysia, with U.S. diplomatic involvement pushing both sides toward negotiations and de-escalation.