BANGKOK, THAILAND – A Thai soldier was lightly wounded by a mortar explosion near the Cambodian border on Tuesday morning, only ten days after a ceasefire took effect.
Soldier injured in Chong Bok border blast
According to the Royal Thai Army, the blast occurred at about 7:25 a.m. in the Chong Bok border area near the Hill 469 ridge in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani province. Thai units of the Suranaree Task Force were stationed there to secure the frontier sector.
The wounded soldier sustained shrapnel injuries, including to his right arm, which the army described as light and not life-threatening. He was evacuated from the frontline and given medical treatment.
Ceasefire violation alleged after recent heavy clashes
The Thai Second Army Region initially assessed the impact as a breach of the ceasefire agreed between the two countries on 27 December 2025. That arrangement had been intended to end weeks of sometimes heavy clashes along the disputed border.
The ceasefire followed intense fighting in December in which dozens of people were killed and hundreds of thousands on both sides were forced to flee. No further clashes were reported by Tuesday afternoon, and both governments relied mainly on direct military contacts to avoid renewed escalation.
Cambodia cites ‘operational error’ in response
Officials from Cambodia reacted quickly with a conciliatory message, establishing direct contact with their Thai counterparts in Bangkok. They said there had been no intention to fire into Thai territory and referred to an “operational error” by their own personnel.
Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree confirmed the communication with the Cambodian side and said it had assured Thailand that the mortar shot was unintentional.
“The Cambodian side has made it clear that there was no intention to attack Thai territory.”
said Winthai, army spokesman.
Thai army issues formal warning, steps up monitoring
At the same time, Thai forces issued a formal warning to prevent further incidents. The military said the situation along the frontline was being closely monitored.
According to army information, Thai units continued to oversee the border line and made use of direct military communication channels with Cambodia to support de-escalation. Both sides had previously committed under the ceasefire to freeze troop movements, cooperate on clearing minefields and enable humanitarian aid for affected civilians.
Border dispute remains unresolved
The conflict over the exact border line between the two neighbours had remained unresolved for years and flared repeatedly over the past year. In 2025, several clashes were recorded, including deadly confrontations in July and December.
Despite the new ceasefire, the mortar incident added fresh tension to the long-running dispute. The episode tested recent commitments to stabilise the border and protect local populations.
Prime Minister Anutin demands accountability
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was briefed in detail on the incident by security agencies. At a press conference, he reaffirmed the country’s self-image as a sovereign state and stressed that sovereignty and territorial integrity had to be preserved.
Anutin also signalled that the events could not pass without consequences.
“Appropriate responsibility and accountability must be assumed.”
said Anutin, prime minister.
According to official statements, Bangkok continued to prioritise de-escalation, but underlined that further border violations would not be accepted. The government framed its response as a balance between maintaining calm and defending national territory.