Military operations and attacks in the region have caused civilian and military casualties, as both governments hold firm positions while the population endures precarious conditions in temporary shelters.
Cambodia’s powerful Senate President Hun Sen vowed on Tuesday that his country would wage a fierce fight against Thailand, as tens of thousands of people fled border areas during a second day of new, widespread clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbors.
The fighting erupted after a confrontation in which a Thai soldier was killed on Sunday night, despite a ceasefire that ended five days of clashes in July over territorial claims along their border.
Those clashes left dozens of civilians and soldiers dead on both sides and forced the evacuation of more than 100,000 civilians.
In a sign that neither side was willing to back down, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Tuesday that Cambodia had not yet contacted Thailand about potential negotiations and that fighting would continue.
“We have to do what we have to do,” he said. “The government will support all types of military operations as previously planned.” He added Monday that military action was necessary to safeguard national sovereignty and ensure public safety.
In a statement posted on Facebook and Telegram, Hun Sen said his country refrained from responding on Monday, but overnight began firing at Thai forces. He wrote that focusing on areas where Thailand was advancing would allow Cambodia “to weaken and destroy enemy forces through counterattacks.”
The Thai army said Cambodian forces fired artillery into a village in Sa Kaeo province early Tuesday, though the attack caused no casualties. Thailand says Cambodian forces also fired at its troops on Sunday and Monday, with both sides accusing each other of firing first.
“Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight to defend its territory,” Hun Sen declared. The longtime Cambodian prime minister, who stepped down in 2023 and was succeeded by his son Hun Manet, is still widely regarded as the country’s de facto leader.
The Thai flag being raised in Ta Phraya District, Sa Kaeo Province, Cambodia.
— ayden (@squatsons) December 9, 2025
Thai military forces continue to push into Cambodian territory. pic.twitter.com/hj6dgZMNBn
The Cambodian Army said Tuesday that seven civilians had been killed and 20 injured in the renewed clashes. A Thai army spokesperson said three Thai soldiers had died in recent fighting.
Ordinary citizens had to cope with life after being relocated from danger zones. An evacuation shelter at a university in the northeastern Thai city of Surin housed more than 3,600 people. Evacuees sat or lay on thin mats spread across the floor, with some setting up small tents in their assigned sleeping areas.
At lunchtime, some lined up with their own plates to receive cooked rice, while others waited for ready-to-eat meals packed in small plastic bags. An army band played for entertainment. Portable fans cooled them during the day, while blankets kept them warm at night, when temperatures can drop to 18°C (64°F).
“We were preparing to evacuate. We hadn’t left yet. But when we heard gunfire, we rushed out,” said cassava farmer Pan-ngam Kanchangthong. “I was scared. Who wouldn’t be afraid of shelling?”
The Thai army said nearly 500 temporary shelters had been set up across four border provinces, housing 125,838 people. Others displaced by the conflict were expected to stay with relatives in safer areas.
Evacuees on the Cambodian side reported similar experiences. “I was terrified when I heard the explosion of the shelling. I was working at the garment factory,” said 44-year-old Vach Neang, a father of seven.
“I called my wife and children but couldn’t reach them, and by then the explosions were getting louder, so the factory owner let us go home.” He spoke from an old market in Banteay Meanchey province that had been turned into a shelter. He added that he packed only a few pieces of clothing before leaving.
The ceasefire that ended July’s fighting was negotiated by Malaysia and pushed by U.S. President Trump, who threatened to withdraw trade privileges from both nations unless they accepted it.
Thailand and Cambodia have a centuries-long history of hostility and experience periodic tensions along their more than 800-kilometer (500-mile) land border. Both were powerful empires centuries ago, but Thailand’s size and greater development over the last century give it a military advantage.
Part of the disputed territory contains centuries-old temples that both nations claim as part of their heritage.
More detailed agreement signed in October called for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border; refraining from spreading false information, accusations, and harmful rhetoric; implementing measures to restore mutual trust and full diplomatic relations; and coordinating operations to remove landmines. None of these actions appear to have been fully or faithfully implemented by either side.
After the ceasefire, both nations continued waging an acrimonious propaganda war using disinformation, as well as engaging in small cross-border clashes.
A major complaint from Cambodia has been that Thailand continues to hold 18 prisoners captured when the ceasefire took effect. Thailand claims they approached its positions in a threatening manner, an accusation denied by Phnom Penh.
Meanwhile, Thailand accuses Cambodia of laying new landmines in disputed areas, which in several cases have maimed Thai soldiers.
The mine issue led Thailand to announce earlier this month that it was indefinitely pausing the implementation of the ceasefire details until Cambodia issued an apology.
