Four Civilians Dead, Thousands Flee as Cambodia Condemns Thai Border Strikes

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 8, 2025) — At least four Cambodian civilians were killed, nine injured and tens of thousands displaced as fighting with Thai forces intensified along the northern border, officials said Monday.

Information Minister Neth Pheaktra reported rising casualties and mass evacuations in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces as hostilities entered a second day.

Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Defense, said Thai forces opened fire on Cambodian military positions and civilian neighborhoods at 5:04 a.m. Monday in Military Region 4, later expanding into Region 5.

She said attacks began Dec. 7 and continued into Dec. 8, including a 1:36 p.m. strike on Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages in O’Bei Choan commune, O’Chrov district, “indiscriminately targeting residential civilian areas.”

Oddar Meanchey deputy governor Met Meas Pheakdey said evacuations have been underway since Dec. 7, with shelling at 6:55 a.m. Monday stretching from Chob Kokir to O’Smach and striking villages four to five kilometers inside Cambodian territory. By 11 a.m., 1,157 families had been relocated.

The Defense Ministry condemned the attacks as “cruel and aggressive acts of warfare” and violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty. It accused Thai authorities of spreading false allegations to inflame tensions. Cambodian forces have not returned fire, the ministry said, reaffirming adherence to the cease‑fire, the Joint Peace Statement and international law.