The United States has urged Thailand and Cambodia to immediately stop fighting along their disputed border as clashes entered a third day, killing at least ten people and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two Southeast Asian neighbors should adhere to de-escalation steps outlined in a ceasefire agreement brokered by President Donald Trump in October, warning that continued violence threatens regional stability.
The fighting marks the most serious escalation since July, when cross border hostilities left dozens dead and raised fears of a wider conflict.
Officials in both countries reported heavy civilian impact from the renewed fighting, which has involved air strikes and artillery exchanges across multiple provinces.
Cambodian authorities said seven of the dead were on their side, while Thailand confirmed three fatalities. Thai officials said more than 400,000 civilians have been evacuated from border areas, while Cambodia reported around 100,000 people moved into temporary shelters.
Thailand’s defense ministry said military actions were limited and taken only as a last resort. A ministry spokesperson said peace must ensure the safety and security of citizens.
Cambodia accused Thailand of launching aggressive attacks that struck civilian facilities and culturally significant sites, including historic temples near the disputed frontier.
Rubio said Washington remains engaged with both governments and expects them to honor the commitments made under the Trump brokered peace deal.
Trump said he was prepared to personally intervene again, adding that he would make a phone call to help end the fighting.
The United Nations also weighed in, with Secretary General António Guterres urging restraint and warning that the conflict has already caused significant civilian casualties, damage to infrastructure, and widespread displacement.
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As tensions rose, Cambodia announced it would withdraw from the Southeast Asian Games being hosted in Thailand.
The Cambodian National Olympic Committee said the decision followed concerns raised by athletes’ families and emphasized that the move was taken with reluctance.
Several countries including the United States, Britain, and Japan issued travel warnings advising against visits to border regions affected by the clashes.
Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty along parts of their roughly 800 kilometer land border for more than a century, a legacy of colonial era boundary mapping during French rule in Cambodia.
The current violence traces back to July 24, when Cambodian rockets struck Thai territory and Thai forces responded with air strikes. That episode ended in a ceasefire arranged by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Trump, who at the time threatened to suspend trade talks unless the fighting stopped.
Although both sides declared an unconditional truce in October, tensions never fully subsided. Fighting this week has spread across at least six provinces in northeastern Thailand and five provinces in northern and northwestern Cambodia.