Thailand imposed an overnight curfew in its southeastern Trat province on Sunday after clashes with Cambodian forces spread to coastal areas along their disputed border, despite recent claims of a ceasefire agreement.
The move shows how fragile efforts to halt the fighting remain, days after US President Donald Trump said both sides had agreed to stop shooting. Military exchanges have continued, raising concerns about further displacement and regional instability.
Thai authorities said the curfew applies to five districts in Trat province bordering Cambodia’s Koh Kong province. Tourist islands including Koh Chang and Koh Kood were excluded. A separate curfew in the eastern province of Sakeo remains in place.
Speaking in Bangkok, Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said clashes had continued despite Cambodia reiterating its willingness to consider a ceasefire on Saturday.
“There have been clashes continuously,” Surasant said, adding that Thailand remained open to talks but only if hostilities stopped first. “Cambodia has to cease hostility before we can negotiate,” he said.
Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged heavy weapons fire at several locations along their 817 kilometre border since Monday, according to military officials. The fighting marks one of the most serious escalations since a five day confrontation in July.
Thai forces said on Saturday they destroyed a bridge used by Cambodian troops to move heavy weapons and supplies into the contested area. The Thai military also said it targeted pre positioned artillery in Cambodia’s coastal Koh Kong province.
Cambodian authorities accused Thailand of striking civilian infrastructure, an allegation Bangkok has not publicly addressed.
The renewed violence follows months of tension that reignited after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border skirmish in May. Since then, repeated clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides, according to regional officials and humanitarian groups cited by Reuters and the BBC.
On Friday, Trump said he had spoken separately with Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and that both leaders had agreed to halt hostilities. “They agreed to cease all shooting,” Trump said at the time.
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However, speaking a day later, Anutin signalled that Thailand would continue military operations if threats persisted. “We will keep fighting until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people,” he said.
A White House spokesperson later said Trump expected all parties to honour their commitments and warned that accountability would follow if violence continued.
“He expects all sides to keep their word and he will hold anyone accountable as necessary to stop the killing and ensure durable peace,” the spokesperson said.