Night Attack Threatens Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia Anew

Thailand accused its neighbor Cambodia this morning, Wednesday, of a "clear and explicit" violation of the ceasefire agreement between the two countries, after Cambodian forces launched a night attack on Thai positions in the province of Sisaket in the east of the country, bringing tension back to their 800-kilometer-long shared border.

In an official statement, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as "an act of aggression and a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement," confirming that this escalation "reflects the Cambodian side's lack of goodwill and undermines diplomatic efforts to calm the situation."

The countries had reached an agreement on a ceasefire that came into effect on Monday night after five days of armed clashes, during which the two sides exchanged artillery fire and gunfire along the border.

According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, Thai soldiers in Sisaket were attacked with "small arms" and grenades launched by Cambodian forces, in a direct violation of the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Thai government spokesperson Jira Phongphaiboon confirmed that clashes occurred during the night hours but emphasized that "Thai forces maintained full control of the situation," adding that the situation at the border "returned to normal since 8:00 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT)."

It is worth mentioning that the Thai army had accused its Cambodian counterpart yesterday, Tuesday, of violating the ceasefire in multiple locations, a claim that was strongly denied by Phnom Penh.

Efforts to calm tensions continue amid international concerns over the escalation of the border conflict between the two neighbors, which is the most intense in over a decade.