Escalated border conflicts persist post-midnight truce agreement, asserted Second Army Division
Tensions Remain High Along Thai-Cambodian Border Amidst Ceasefire Violations
The Second Army Region's Operations Centre has issued a situation update on the ongoing armed clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border, which remains a volatile and unresolved legacy of historical border and sovereignty disputes.
Ceasefire Violations Continue
Despite agreeing to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during talks held in Kuala Lumpur on July 28, violations and provocations have continued intermittently. Both sides accuse each other of ceasefire breaches, such as mine-laying, false incident staging, and airstrikes on civilian areas, leading to mutual distrust.
On the night of July 29, Cambodian troops launched indirect fire attacks on Thai positions at Phu Makua around 1am. Clashes with support weapons occurred at Chong An Ma from 5am to 9am, and there was an exchange of gunfire with small arms at No Name Hill to the west of Chong Bok. Unmanned aerial vehicles of unknown origin were also detected flying above Thai military installations and airfields along the border.
Relocation of Evacuees
In response to the ongoing clashes, the Second Army Region has requested all evacuees to remain where they are until the security situation is reassessed in cooperation with national security agencies. As of August 2025, a total of 137,998 people have been relocated, an increase of 18,926 from the previous update, in four provinces: Surin, Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani. In Surin, 54,114 evacuees are at 92 centres, while in Buri Ram, 14,551 evacuees are at one centre. In Si Sa Ket, 47,521 evacuees are at 187 centres, and in Ubon Ratchathani, 21,812 evacuees are at 68 centres.
International Involvement
International actors, including ASEAN, the UN Security Council, and countries like the US and Malaysia, have pressured both sides to maintain the ceasefire and seek peaceful dialogue. Nonetheless, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain, with sustained dialogue and possibly third-party arbitration considered necessary to achieve lasting peace. Thailand remains reluctant to accept international court jurisdiction, preferring bilateral mechanisms to settle disputes.
Negotiations and Political Climate
Negotiations between their military commanders and joint committees, such as the Thailand-Cambodia Regional Border Committee (RBC), are ongoing to implement the ceasefire terms and resolve issues including landmine removal and border demarcation. However, these talks have stalled over contentious issues like removal of landmines and return of displaced families, complicated by nationalist politics, historical grievances, and political interpersonal conflicts including ties between prominent political families from both countries.
His Majesty the King's Involvement
His Majesty the King has graciously placed the injured and deceased under royal patronage. Despite the ongoing tensions, the King's involvement serves as a symbol of hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
This situation is a volatile, unresolved legacy of historical border and sovereignty disputes, particularly around the Preah Vihear Temple area. Both sides maintain troop deployments in the vicinity of Ta Kwai and Ta Muen temples, and a confrontation occurred in the Sam Tae area, but Thai forces held their position.
In conclusion, the tensions between Thailand and Cambodia at their shared border remain high despite a ceasefire agreement reached in late July 2025. The durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain, and sustained dialogue and possibly third-party arbitration are considered necessary to achieve lasting peace.
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