THAILAND – A fresh round of clashes along the Thai‑Cambodian border left one Thai soldier dead and further escalated tensions in the disputed frontier region.
Deadly morning clash at Chan-Bok Pass
Heavy attacks hit Thai positions near the Chan‑Bok Pass in Nam Yuen district around 07:00, where Cambodian units used supporting fire including artillery and other heavy munitions. One Thai soldier was killed and four were injured, while there were no confirmed figures for Cambodian casualties.
Thai air forces then carried out strikes on military targets along several border sections to suppress heavy fire and prevent further incursions, measures described by Major General Winthai Suvaree as defensive steps aimed at de‑escalation. The latest escalation was linked to a Cambodian attack the previous day in the long‑contested Phu Pha Lek – Plan Hin Paet Kok area in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province.
Chan-An-Ma firefight intensifies
According to a statement from Major General Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, clashes at the Chan‑An‑Ma Pass in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani, sharply intensified in the early hours. Cambodian soldiers opened fire at about 05:05 with small arms and anti‑tank rockets, triggering hours of fighting.
Thai troops returned fire with comparable weapons and, according to the army, adhered to established rules of engagement for border conflicts. Military authorities monitored the situation closely as exchanges continued along the rugged frontier.
Night assault and troop buildup along frontier
The operations center of the 2nd Army Region issued an urgent situation report on the Thai‑Cambodian border, stating that Cambodian units opened fire on Thai positions during the night. They subsequently deployed additional forces and strengthened their military presence in several border sectors.
Thai authorities viewed the ongoing buildup as a serious escalation and kept the frontier under tight observation. The reported movements added to fears that the confrontation could broaden beyond isolated skirmishes.
Artillery targeting of Thai villages raises alarm
At 03:25, Cambodian artillery units were observed determining fire coordinates for two Thai settlements: Ban Kachai Noi in Prasat sub‑district, Ban Dan district, about 13 kilometers from Buriram airport, and Ban Charuk Khwae in Khok Yang sub‑district, Prasat district, in Surin province, roughly 31 kilometers from the border. The reported target acquisition was seen as a clear escalation.
Officials warned that the move heightened concerns that tensions along the border could rapidly worsen. Civil defense structures in affected provinces had already been activated following previous alerts.
Heavy rocket systems mass near key crossings
Around 01:00, extensive redeployments of heavy weapons were again observed in the Krong Samraong sector. These included BM‑21 Grad and Type‑90B multiple rocket launchers moving toward the border points of Chhong Chom and Chhong Samet.
At the same time, civilian withdrawals from Cambodian border villages continued, reinforcing fears of further deterioration along the Thai‑Cambodian frontier. The return of long‑range rocket artillery deepened anxiety about potential strikes across wider areas.
RM-70 launchers spotted near Chom Ksan
At midnight on 8 December, RM‑70 multiple rocket launchers were seen in the Chom Ksan area of Preah Vihear province, near the border passes of Chhong Bok and Chhong Anma. As in other sectors, new civilian evacuations were reported from adjacent Cambodian villages.
The combination of newly arrived long‑range artillery systems and continuing flight of residents pointed to a steadily tightening situation along the shared border region. Observers noted that military preparations and civilian movements appeared increasingly synchronized.
Previous day’s clash triggers maximum alert
The 2nd Army Region reported a marked escalation along the border on 7 December. According to a situation report from its operations center at 23:00, Cambodian forces had raised their combat readiness to the highest level.
The background was an armed confrontation earlier that day in the Phu Pha Lek and Phan Hin Paet Kon area of Sisaket province, where units of the 13th Infantry Regiment exchanged fire with Cambodian soldiers. Two Thai soldiers were wounded, one by a leg shot and the other apparently by sniper fire, and were evacuated to hospitals in Surin and Sisaket provinces.
Border clash sparks mass evacuations in Thailand
On 7 December, a clash near Chong Phu Pham Lek in Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket, left two Thai soldiers injured and sharply worsened the border situation. The 2nd Army Region immediately ordered evacuations in four provinces: Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Buri Ram.
In Surin, “red zones” were cleared while village security units stayed behind, and many families fled again, in some cases for the third time, seeking shelter in emergency facilities. In Buachet, traffic jams formed at petrol stations as residents prepared vehicles for flight.
At 16:04, the disaster prevention agency sent a cell‑broadcast alert urging residents to leave border areas and follow official instructions.
Thai army frames airstrikes as defensive
Amid concerns over cross‑border shelling, Thai air operations targeted military sites in several sectors to curb heavy fire and block further advances.
“These are defensive measures aimed at de‑escalation,”
said Major General Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army.
He linked the airstrikes and increased readiness directly to the Cambodian attack in the disputed Phu Pha Lek area the previous day. Authorities in the affected provinces maintained high alert status as both sides kept forces massed near the frontier.