This is a major escalation. Thailand launched air strikes against Cambodia on Monday, December 8, 2025, after clashes erupted on their disputed border, leaving one Thai soldier dead and four wounded.
Both sides are trading blame for firing first, shattering a fragile ceasefire brokered just months ago.
The December Escalation
The Trigger: Thai Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said Cambodian troops fired on Thai forces early Monday in Ubon Ratchathani province.
Thai soldiers were hit with “supporting fire weapons.” Cambodia’s spokesperson Maly Socheata, however, accused Thai forces of launching the initial attack in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces, alleging Thailand fired tanks near the Tamone Thom temple.
Thai Response: Thailand confirmed they are “using aircraft to strike military targets” in several areas to suppress the attacks. This marks a significant military response.
The Damage: One Thai soldier was killed and four were wounded in the Monday morning clashes.
The Refugee Crisis: Around 35,000 people on the Thai side have been evacuated from the border areas since the renewed fighting.
Ceasefire in Shambles: This renewed fighting comes after a devastating five-day war in July that killed at least 48 people and displaced around 300,000. That conflict ended with an expanded ceasefire deal signed in October, which was witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Why They Are Fighting Over a Hindu Temple
The whole thing boils down to a centuries-old territorial dispute linked to ancient Hindu temple complexes, especially Preah Vihear and the nearby Tamone Thom and Ta Krabei temples.
X is the root of the issue. And then the colonial borders followed, making the ownership of these temples unclear.
Colonial Roots: The dispute originated with the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese treaties that defined the border when Cambodia was a French colony. The French-drawn maps deviated from the natural watershed line of the Dangrek Mountains, placing the temples in contested territory.
The ICJ Ruling: The Preah Vihear temple has been the biggest flashpoint. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia. In 2013, the ICJ clarified that the land immediately surrounding the temple also belongs to Cambodia.
National Pride: Despite the ICJ rulings, Thailand continues to claim sovereignty over the land surrounding the temples, viewing the border demarcation as flawed and the territory as historically Thai. For both nations, these 11th-century temples—originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva—are powerful symbols of national identity and ancient heritage.
The Flare-Up Points: This latest flare-up centers on the Tamone Thom and Ta Krabei temple areas, which are also part of the long-contested border zones that were never properly demarcated. Small skirmishes and accusations of drone incursions or landmine placements often trigger massive responses.
This conflict is a toxic mix of colonial legacy, intense nationalism, and unresolved cartography.
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