SURIN – In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Cambodia’s influential Senate President, Hun Sen, declared on Tuesday that the nation is prepared to engage in a vigorous confrontation with neighboring Thailand. This announcement comes on the heels of renewed hostilities that have prompted tens of thousands to evacuate from border regions between the two Southeast Asian nations.

The latest outbreak of violence began after a Thai soldier was killed during a skirmish on Sunday night. This incident shattered a previously established ceasefire, which had temporarily halted five days of intense clashes in July. Those earlier conflicts, driven by disputed territorial claims, resulted in numerous casualties and forced over 100,000 civilians to seek safety elsewhere.

Despite efforts for peace, both sides are now pledging to continue their military engagement. In a social media statement shared via Facebook and Telegram, Hun Sen asserted that although Cambodia initially refrained from retaliation on Monday, the decision was made overnight to return fire against Thai forces. He outlined a tactical approach focused on targeting Thai advancements to “weaken and destroy enemy forces through counterattacks.”

Meanwhile, the Thai military reported that Cambodian artillery struck a village in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, this attack resulted in no casualties. Furthermore, Thai authorities claim that Cambodian forces fired upon their troops both Sunday and Monday, with each nation accusing the other of initiating hostilities.

Thailand’s army said Cambodian forces had fired artillery at a village in Sa Kaeo province early Tuesday morning, though the strike caused no casualties. Thailand says that Cambodian forces also fired at its troops Sunday and Monday, as each side blames the other for firing the first shots.

“Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight back to defend its territory,” Hun Sen said. Hun Sen was Cambodia’s long-serving prime minister until 2023, when he was succeeded by his son Hun Manet, but is still widely seen as the country’s de facto leader.

Cambodia’s military announced Tuesday that the new fighting had killed seven civilians and wounded 20. A spokesperson for the Thai military announced Tuesday that one solder had been killed and 29 wounded in the new fighting.

Speaking at a news conference, Thai Rear Adm. Surasant Kongsiri said the navy was strengthening its position in eastern Thailand near the border with Cambodia.

Thailand on Monday carried out airstrikes along the frontier, which it said were a defensive action targeting military installations. Surasant said such operation would continue “until attacks stop.”

Villagers on both sides flee to safety

A separate statement from Thailand’s 2nd Army Region, situated along the border, said almost 500 temporary shelters have been set up in four border provinces, accommodating 125,838 people. Additional refugees from the fighting are expected to stay with relatives in safe areas.

It said Cambodia attacked Thai positions with rocket and drone attacks.

Cambodia said people fled villages near the border.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Monday in a televised speech that military operations would be carried out as necessary to defend the country and protect public safety.

“Thailand has never wished for violence. I’d like to reiterate that Thailand has never initiated a fight or an invasion, but will never tolerate a violation of its sovereignty,” he said.

The two nations have a history of ill will

Thailand and Cambodia have a history of enmity over centuries and experience periodic tensions along their land border of more than 800 kilometers (500 miles).

The ceasefire that was agreed to end July’s fighting was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges from the two nations unless they agreed to it.

A more detailed agreement signed in October called for removing heavy weapons and equipment from the border; desisting from disseminating false information, accusations, and harmful rhetoric; implementing measures to restore mutual trust and full diplomatic relations; and coordinating operations to remove land mines.

None of these actions appear to have been implemented in full or in good faith by either side. After the ceasefire, both nations continued to fight a bitter propaganda war using disinformation, alongside minor outbreaks of cross-border violence.

Prisoners and land mines have been sticky issues

A major Cambodian complaint has been that Thailand continues to hold 18 prisoners taken prisoner when the ceasefire became active. Thailand accuses Cambodia of laying new land mines in the areas under dispute, in several cases maiming Thai soldiers. Cambodia says the mines are left over from decades of civil war that ended in 1999.

The mines issue caused Thailand to declare earlier this month that it was indefinitely pausing implementation of the details of the ceasefire until Cambodia apologized for the

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the new fighting, especially the use of air strikes and heavy weapons, and called on the warring parties to recommit to the ceasefire.

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Sopheng Cheang reported from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.