Casualties Increase and Displacement Widespread as Fighting Intensifies Between Cambodia and Thailand

SadaNews - Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand has extended along the disputed border between the two countries, with Thailand announcing today, Tuesday, its intention to take action to expel Cambodian forces it claims have intruded into its territory.

This escalation follows renewed clashes that undermine the fragile ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump after five days of fighting last July.

Both Bangkok and Cambodia have blamed each other for the renewed violence. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense reported that two civilians were killed last night, bringing the total death toll since the onset of the current round of fighting to six, while Thailand announced that one of its soldiers was killed.

The Thai Navy stated that it spotted Cambodian forces within its territory in Trat province before launching operations to expel them, while Cambodia accused its neighbor of using force against civilian villages under the pretext of "restoring sovereignty."

The Thai Navy emphasizes that Cambodian forces are reinforcing their presence along the border, deploying snipers and heavy weapons, and establishing fortified positions and trenches, considering this a "direct threat to Thailand's sovereignty."

The clashes on Monday were the most intense since the rocket and heavy artillery bombardment in July, which resulted in the deaths of at least 48 people and the displacement of 300,000 before a ceasefire was reached.

As the fighting spreads, Thailand has evacuated about 438,000 civilians in five border provinces, while Cambodian authorities reported that hundreds of thousands have been moved to safe areas.

The two nations have disputed sovereignty over unmarked border areas for more than a century, and disagreements over ancient temples have fueled nationalism and sporadic armed skirmishes over time.