Thai-C Cambodian border clash injures 28 as ceasefire frays

Thai security forces clashed with Cambodian protesters on the disputed border on Wednesday, threatening a fragile truce reached after five days of heavy fighting in July. Cambodian officials said 28 people were injured during several hours of unrest near Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province; Thai authorities identified the area as Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Sa Kaeo province. No deaths were reported.

Thai security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters who appeared to be civilians, as rocks and other projectiles were thrown from the Cambodian side. Thai Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree described the incident as a Cambodian mob encroaching on Thai territory, obstructing operations, and destroying official property, and said the clash began as authorities sought to set up security barriers along the border. Cambodian government statements said local residents had gathered to remove barbed wire being laid, and that Thai forces fired live ammunition, rubber bullets, and smoke bombs, while deploying high-frequency sound devices that can damage the eardrum and brain. The Cambodian account said the violence injured at least 28 people, including monks, some of whom fainted or sustained injuries. A Thai army statement reported about 200 Cambodians came from the Cambodian side to protest the deployment of barriers and concertina wire; after the initial tear gas lull, violence flared again as authorities resumed work, with tear gas, rubber bullets, and LRADs used to quell the unrest.

By late afternoon, Cambodians began to retreat, shouting at Thai forces and continuing to throw rocks and sticks and sling shots, according to the Thai army statement. Five Thai soldiers were reported injured. The army said a similar confrontation occurred on Tuesday, when a large crowd wielding wooden sticks and slingshots attempted to pull down barbed wire and was restrained with tear gas and rubber bullets. The clash comes amid ongoing strains after July’s five days of fighting that killed dozens and displaced more than 260,000 people.

The border dispute traces to historical maps and chronicles, including a 1907 map made during French colonial rule that Thailand argues is inaccurate. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 awarded sovereignty over an area that includes the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia, a ruling the court has since reaffirmed. In June, Cambodia proposed returning to the ICJ to resolve the border in the disputed areas, a proposal Thailand rejected. The ceasefire reached after mediation by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump has helped reduce open fighting, but tensions persist along the no-man’s land where mines have wounded Thai soldiers and both sides accuse the other of violations.

The latest flare underscores how fragile the post-ceasefire period remains, with both sides maintaining fortified positions and pledges to uphold the line while continuing to monitor for what each side calls provocations. The region remains watchful for any renewed clashes that could spill over into broader conflict, with international observers urging restraint and renewed dialogue to prevent a relapse into violence.