More Than 1,000 Cambodian Border Schools Closed as Fighting With Thailand Escalates

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 17, 2025) — Cambodian authorities say more than 1,000 schools along the border with Thailand have been closed amid ongoing clashes, disrupting the education of nearly 255,000 students and displacing hundreds of thousands of families.

The Ministry of Education said that as of Dec. 17, 1,091 schools in seven border provinces had been shut, affecting 11,922 teachers and 254,480 students.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of Interior reported 17 civilian deaths and 77 injuries linked to the violence, though it also noted no confirmed casualties during the same period, without clarifying the discrepancy.

Officials said more than 130,000 families — about 432,000 people, including 222,000 women and 134,000 children — had been forced from their homes.​ The provinces most affected include Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Battambang, Pursat and Koh Kong.

Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, said the casualties resulted from shelling and airstrikes Cambodia blamed on Thai forces.

She accused Thailand of “indiscriminate” attacks, including the use of F 16 fighter jets, heavy weapons and rockets against civilian areas and temples.

“These actions violate international law,” Socheata said, rejecting Thai claims that Cambodian forces had targeted civilians.

She urged Thailand to halt military operations, stop spreading misinformation and refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and places of worship. “Peace can only be achieved through concrete actions, not words,” she said.