Thailand Defies Anwar–Trump Ceasefire, Pounds Cambodia With Overnight Strikes

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 14, 2025) — Thailand has defied a ceasefire initiative jointly announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump, unleashing heavy overnight attacks on Cambodian territory that stretched hours past the agreed truce.

Anwar said the ceasefire was to begin at 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, with ASEAN observers and U.S. satellite monitoring in place to verify compliance. The plan required both sides to halt hostilities and freeze troop movements.

Instead, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence reported Thai forces fired rockets, artillery, and cluster munitions across the border from shortly after midnight until 8 a.m. Sunday. The ministry said a Thai F‑16 fighter jet crossed into Cambodian airspace at 5:55 a.m., dropping four bombs in Veal Veng district, Pursat province.

In Preah Vihear province, rockets struck near the temple at 2:40 a.m., followed by armored vehicle deployments and artillery barrages. Additional strikes hit Khnar Temple at 5:30 a.m. In Pursat, shelling continued for hours, targeting villages including O’Phlok Damrei, Chak Cha‑1, Beung Trakuon, and Chhouk Chey.

Cambodia accused Thailand of indiscriminate bombardment, civilian casualties, and destruction of property, infrastructure, and heritage sites. The Defence Ministry condemned the attacks as “grave violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law,” demanding an immediate halt.