Jakarta – Thousands of residents living in the border areas of Thailand and Cambodia carried out a mass evacuation on Monday (08/12) local time. Fighting between the two countries erupted and killed at least five people.

Both countries accused each other of triggering the fighting, which was the most serious confrontation as they agreed to a ceasefire last July.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his country had “never desired violence” but would “use any means necessary to defend its sovereignty”.

Conversely, former Cambodian leader Hun Sen accused Thai “occupiers” of provoking retaliation.

Since last May, fighting between the two neighboring countries has caused more than 40 deaths, triggered import bans and travel restrictions.

The current Thailand-Cambodia conflict also marks the failure of the ceasefire sponsored by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, last July.

Why are tensions heating up again this December?

AFP via Getty imagesresidents are taking shelter in temporary shelters in Buriram Province, following clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops that have increased tensions along the border.

Both sides gave different versions of the fighting incident that occurred earlier this week.

Both Thailand and Cambodia accuse each other of triggering the conflict.

On Monday (08/12), the Thai military admitted that its troops responded to fire from the Cambodian side in Ubon Ratchathani Province, thailand.

In the attack it was reported that one Thai soldier was killed.

In response, the thai military also confirmed that it had launched air strikes against military targets along the disputed border.

Residents living on the border fled the area as new clashes erupted on Monday.

On the other hand, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense stated that Thai troops attacked first on their sovereign territory, in Preah Vihear province.

Cambodia also insisted that it did not carry out retaliatory attacks.

According to officials on both sides, at least one Thai soldier and four cambodian civilians were killed, and dozens of people were injured as a result of monday’s fighting.

Not stopping, the next day, the Thai military accused Cambodia of firing rockets and using them drone bomb carrier as well drone kamikaze into Thai military centers, with some rockets reportedly hitting civilian areas.

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Then Cambodia accused Thailand of shooting indiscriminately into civilian areas in Pursat Province, on the Cambodian border.

Thailand-Cambodia border Dispute: What happened to Trump’s ‘Peace Deal’?

AFP via Getty Images
residents take shelter in bunkers after clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo Province, thailand, on December 9, 2025.

In late October 2025, former U.S.President Donald trump announced a “peace deal” between Thailand and Cambodia to end a long-running border dispute. However, the situation has quickly deteriorated.

Thailand rejects the designation, instead calling it a “Joint Declaration of the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia on the Results of Their Meeting in Kuala Lumpur”.

Both sides agreed to move heavy weapons away from the disputed area and create a temporary observer team to monitor the region.

The next step was supposed to be the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers held in Thailand.

But just two weeks after the agreement was signed, Thailand said it would stop following it, after two Thai soldiers were hurt by a landmine near the border.

Cambodia, which even suggested Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the ceasefire, has repeatedly said it still supports the deal.

What is the fate of Trump’s ‘peace deal’?

AFP via Getty Images
US President, Donald Trump, greets the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, who is watched by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul (center), on Sunday (26/10).

Thailand paused Trump’s ‘Peace Deal’ last November.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said the security risk “has not really decreased”.

Cambodia said at the time it remained committed to the deal’s terms.

After fighting started again in december, Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phu