Tensions along the Thailand–Cambodia border have surged sharply after the Thai Air Force carried out more than 20 F-16 airstrikes on Cambodian military positions in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear since December 8, 2025.
Bangkok says the operations were defensive responses to repeated Cambodian artillery, rocket, and drone fire that killed one Thai soldier and wounded at least eight others. Thai officials argue that Cambodia has been trying to alter the status quo along contested border zones, prompting a forceful reaction.
Cambodia, however, reports at least 14 dead—including four civilians—and accuses Thailand of “unprovoked aggression” and “inhumane acts,” insisting it has observed a US-brokered ceasefire despite Thai escalation. The intensifying conflict has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, with more than 500,000 people displaced on both sides as border communities evacuate under fire. Regional governments are warning that the situation could spiral into a broader Southeast Asian security emergency unless immediate de-escalation efforts succeed.
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