Twenty Days of Bombardment: Cambodia Says Thai Attacks Leave Over Half a Million Homeless

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 26, 2025) — Cambodia says continued shelling and airstrikes by Thai forces have forced more than 645,000 civilians from their homes after 20 consecutive days of bombardment along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

In a statement Friday, the Interior Ministry said Thai forces fired artillery and dropped aerial munitions into civilian areas between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Dec. 26, injuring two civilians in Banteay Meanchey province. Since Dec. 7, at least 30 civilians have been killed and 90 injured.

Authorities reported 645,916 displaced people, including 337,067 women and 205,382 children, as families continue to flee repeated shelling and airstrikes.

Damage has been recorded to 147 civilian houses, private buildings, apartments, hotels, a gas station, vehicles, warehouses, rice barns, cell towers, as well as schools, health centers, pagodas, government offices, bridges, markets, road sections and ancient temples.

The ministry welcomed recent talks between Prime Minister Hun Manet and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed U.S. support for a ceasefire. Cambodia reiterated its commitment to the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration and called for swift implementation of peace mechanisms to end the fighting.