Renewed and rapidly spreading fighting has erupted between Thailand and Cambodia along their long-disputed border, shattering a fragile ceasefire brokered earlier this year by U.S. President Donald Trump and other regional partners.

The clashes, which intensified into Monday and Tuesday, have reportedly involved heavy artillery fire and even Thai airstrikes, causing a rising death toll and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides of the 800km frontier.

Cambodian authorities confirmed on Tuesday that at least two more civilians were killed in overnight shelling by Thai forces, bringing the civilian death toll on its side to at least six. Thailand has reported the death of at least one soldier in the recent escalation, with multiple injuries also confirmed.

The combat has reportedly spread across multiple flashpoints along the border, including areas near the contested ancient temple complexes like Preah Vihear. In response to the escalating situation, the Thai military has ordered large-scale evacuations, with reports indicating that over 385,000 civilians across four border districts are being moved to safer areas.

Both nations have blamed the other for breaching the ceasefire, which was signed in October after a deadly five-day conflict in July that killed dozens and displaced over 300,000 people.

Thailand suspended implementation of the truce last month, citing an increase in landmine incidents that injured several Thai soldiers. Bangkok accused Cambodia of laying new mines in violation of the agreement, a claim Phnom Penh denies.

The current escalation marks a serious failure of the peace efforts, which U.S. President Donald Trump had touted as a significant foreign policy success. Following the initial July ceasefire, Cambodia had nominated President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role.

The Thai military has confirmed launching airstrikes into Cambodian territory, stating the actions were in response to Cambodian forces opening fire with artillery and mortars, which reportedly killed a Thai soldier and injured several others. The Thai government maintains its military operations are necessary to defend its sovereignty.

In contrast, Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence has accused Thai forces of initiating the attack and carrying out "aggressive military operations" on Cambodian territory, stressing that its forces are committed to the ceasefire and did not initially retaliate. Cambodia's Defense Ministry also claimed that the Thai attacks have caused damage to the Preah Vihear temple area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The long-running conflict over the territorial sovereignty of the border region dates back more than a century to the era of French colonial rule in Cambodia, with the status of land surrounding ancient temples remaining a persistent flashpoint. Regional calls for restraint have come from Malaysia and the United Nations, urging both sides to return to a diplomatic path. (ILKHA)