The long-simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has exploded into renewed deadly violence, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of bombing the bustling casino hub of Poipet on December 18, 2025. This latest strike comes as fighting continues unabated, killing dozens, displacing around 800,000 people, and stranding thousands of Thai nationals. Despite international pressure from the US, China, ASEAN, and the EU for an immediate ceasefire, no truce is in sight. The conflict, rooted in colonial-era border demarcations and ancient temple disputes, has seen artillery, tanks, drones, and airstrikes, with both sides blaming each other for civilian attacks and escalation.
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Latest update: Cambodia's defense ministry reported that Thai forces dropped two bombs on Poipet Municipality around 11:00 am on Thursday, marking a direct strike on the popular gambling town. At least four casinos have been damaged in recent strikes, according to Cambodian officials. Source: Al Jazeera.
International efforts intensify: China is conducting shuttle diplomacy, ASEAN foreign ministers are holding emergency talks in Malaysia, and the EU has offered satellite monitoring for a ceasefire. US President Donald Trump previously claimed a truce was agreed, but Thailand denied it, and fighting persists.
Details of the Renewed Conflict
Cambodia’s defense ministry stated that Thai forces “dropped two bombs in the area of Poipet Municipality, Banteay Meanchey Province” at around 11:00 am (0400 GMT) on Thursday. Thailand has not confirmed the strike on Poipet, a key border crossing and casino destination favored by Thai gamblers.
The fighting this month has claimed at least 21 lives in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, while forcing massive displacements. Thailand reports 5,000–6,000 of its citizens stranded in Poipet due to Cambodia's border closures, described as necessary for civilian safety. Air travel remains an option for evacuation.
Earlier clashes in July killed dozens before a short-lived truce brokered by the US, China, and Malaysia. The current round, sparked by a border skirmish, involves heavy weaponry and daily exchanges.
International Response
China announced a special envoy's shuttle-diplomacy trip to promote de-escalation. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed cautious optimism ahead of ASEAN talks, urging an immediate halt to offensives.
EU Vice President Kaja Kallas offered support for ceasefire verification via satellite imagery, stressing the need to prevent further escalation.
AFP reports: Cambodia said Thailand’s military on Thursday bombed the casino town of Poipet, a major crossing between the two nations, as foreign powers pressured them to halt reignited border clashes.
Thai forces “dropped two bombs in the area of Poipet Municipality, Banteay Meanchey Province” at around 11:00 am (0400 GMT) Thursday, the Cambodian defense ministry said in a statement.
Thailand said Tuesday that between 5,000 and 6,000 Thai nationals remained stranded in Poipet after Cambodia closed its land border crossings with its neighbor.
Cambodia’s interior ministry said the border closures were a “necessary measure” to reduce risks to civilians amid the ongoing combat, adding that air travel remained an option for those seeking to leave.
At least four casinos in Cambodia have been damaged by Thai strikes, the interior ministry said this week.
– ‘Shuttle-diplomacy’ –
Five days of fighting between Cambodia and Thailand in July killed dozens of people before a truce was brokered by the United States, China and Malaysia, and then broken within months.
US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly intervened in the long-standing conflict this year, claimed last week that the two countries had agreed to a new ceasefire.
But Bangkok denied any truce had been agreed, and fighting with artillery, tanks, drones and jets has continued daily since a border skirmish earlier this month sparked the latest round of conflict.
China said it was sending its special envoy for Asian affairs to Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday for a “shuttle-diplomacy trip” to help bridge the gaps and “rebuild peace.”
“Through its own way, China has been working actively for deescalation,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement late Wednesday.
Foreign ministers from ASEAN regional bloc nations are due to meet on Monday in Malaysia for emergency talks aimed at finding a diplomatic solution.
“Our duty is to present the facts but more important is to press upon them that it is imperative for them to secure peace,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told journalists late Wednesday.
“We are appealing to them to immediately stop this frontline offensive and if possible, an immediate ceasefire,” Anwar said at his official residence in Putrajaya, adding that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the talks.
European Commission vice president Kaja Kallas said in a statement that she had spoken with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Wednesday, offering the European Union’s support for ceasefire monitoring with satellite imagery.
“The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia must not be allowed to spiral further. That’s why the ceasefire needs to be immediately restored,” Kallas said.