Thailand Deploys F-16s Against Cambodia as Death Toll Rises, 700,000 Evacuated

SOUTHEAST ASIA — The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has intensified into a military crisis, marked by heavy air strikes and artillery fire that have killed at least 21 people and forced a massive displacement of 700,000 civilians across six provinces in both nations.

On Saturday morning, the Cambodian defense ministry accused the Thai military of using two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs on civilian infrastructure, including hotel buildings and a bridge. Thailand, which confirmed the continued fighting, reported several civilians were injured by a retaliatory Cambodian rocket attack.

The escalation comes despite a high-profile attempt by US President Donald Trump to enforce an immediate ceasefire. Following separate calls with both the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers on Friday night, Trump posted on social media that the two countries had agreed to “cease shooting effective this evening.”

However, both national leaders immediately contradicted the US President’s claim. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul vowed to continue military actions until his nation felt “no more harm and threats,” demanding Cambodia first withdraw its forces and remove landmines from the disputed border areas. Cambodia stated it would fight on to protect its sovereignty.

The current clashes, which involve the heaviest use of force since a major fight in July, threaten to completely unravel the truce brokered by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in October.

The long-standing conflict is rooted in a contested 800-kilometre land border first drawn by French cartographers in 1907 when France was the colonial ruler of Cambodia. Since the agreement in October, the conflict has been kept alive by mutual accusations of ceasefire violations, including Thailand’s claims that Cambodian troops have laid new landmines, causing injuries to Thai soldiers.

The intense fighting, which has included Thailand launching air strikes deep inside Cambodia, continues to escalate across six northeastern Thai provinces and six provinces in Cambodia’s north and northwest.