Credited from: LEMONDE
Thailand's military has launched a renewed offensive against Cambodia, asserting its intention to reclaim what it considers sovereign territory amidst rising tensions along their 800-kilometer border. The situation escalated on December 7, with both countries engaging in heavy clashes that have resulted in over 27 deaths, including 15 Thai soldiers and 11 Cambodian civilians, highlighting the urgent humanitarian crisis with about 800,000 displaced people, according to Le Monde, South China Morning Post, and The Jakarta Post.
The Thai government has declared a curfew in Trat province and stated a commitment to ongoing military operations, dismissing claims from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding an agreement to halt the fighting. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed there was no ceasefire agreement, reiterating that Thailand's military will continue its actions until it feels secure from threats, as reported by Reuters, Channel News Asia, and South China Morning Post.
The ongoing violence has included significant military actions, with both Cambodian and Thai forces accusing each other of indiscriminate attacks. Cambodia has shut down its border crossings with Thailand as a response to the escalating conflict, which has left many migrant workers stranded, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.
Witness accounts from evacuation centers reflect a community in distress, with concerns growing over homes and livestock amidst the violence. As clashes continue unabated, both sides maintain hardline military stances, aiming to assert their territorial claims, as indicated by the ongoing military operations and public statements from both governments, detailed by South China Morning Post and Le Monde.
The United States, which initially mediated earlier ceasefires, has faced challenges in its diplomatic efforts to mitigate the violence, despite claims by President Trump that a new agreement to cease hostilities had been reached, which Thai leaders have promptly denied, based on statements from Reuters, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.