War Crime Allegations?: Thai-Cambodian Ceasefire Collapses as Bangkok Launches ‘Expulsion’ Operation

BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, El Sky News – The meticulously crafted ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, previously believed capable of de-escalating the bloody border crisis, is now described as ‘shattered’ after the Royal Thai Army launched a large-scale operation, including air strikes, allegedly to ‘expel’ Cambodian military units from the disputed area.

This escalation of violence has pushed the protracted Southeast Asian conflict back into a critical phase, raising international community concerns about the possibility of ‘war crimes’ and a rising civilian toll.

Air War Causes Casualties

The latest fighting reportedly erupted early Monday, with both sides trading accusations over who initiated the cross-border attacks. Thai authorities confirmed the use of air assets, including F-16 fighter jets, to strike strategic Cambodian military positions that allegedly fired BM-21 rockets towards Thai civilian areas.

An official statement from Bangkok mentioned the operation was in response to an initial attack that killed one Thai soldier and injured several others.

“We had no choice but to act decisively to protect our sovereignty and the lives of our people,” asserted the Thai Army Chief of Staff, General Chaipruak Doungprapat. “Our goal is to cripple Cambodia’s military capabilities in the area for the long term.”

Phnom Penh: “Violent and Cruel Act”

Conversely, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense described the Thai air strikes as “a violent, inhumane, and cruel act,” and claimed their troops did not retaliate against provocation.

Initial reports confirm at least four Cambodian civilians, including a woman, were killed in a shelling incident in the Preah Vihear province. This bloodshed has triggered a mass exodus of border residents, with thousands of families forced to flee their homes in search of shelter.

“They trespassed. They attacked. We demand the intervention of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to halt this aggression,” stated a Cambodian government spokesperson.

Malaysia Calls for De-escalation

The ceasefire, achieved through the mediation efforts of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump last July, along with the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord (KL Accord) in October, is now seen as no longer being respected.

Malaysia, through Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, has issued a firm call for both parties to take immediate steps to reduce tensions.

“Malaysia views this development seriously. We urge all parties to revert to and comply with the Ceasefire Agreement, which states the necessity for immediate consultations at the local level if armed conflict occurs,” he said in a statement released yesterday afternoon.

This crisis marks the most intense fighting since heavy artillery fire exchanges in July, which claimed dozens of lives and forced the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents. Without effective diplomatic negotiations, the risk of regional escalation in the Indochina region is seen as increasingly alarming.

(Leakim Otid)