Cambodia blames Thailand for ‘ruthless’ bombardment amid border talks

US offers to mediate more talks to end the latest flare-up of violence, which has upended an October peace accord.Published On 26 Dec 2025Cambodia has accused Thai forces of carrying out “ruthless” aerial attacks against it, even as the two sides hold new talks aimed at easing their long-running border conflict.Thai fighter jets dropped dozens of bombs near the northwestern Cambodian village of Chouk Chey early on Friday morning, causing “extensive destruction to civilians’ homes, properties, and public infrastructure”, Cambodia’s state news agency cited the defence ministry as saying.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Video: What’s behind Thailand and Cambodia’s border dispute?list 2 of 3Cambodia says Thailand bombed casino hub on border, with no truce in sightlist 3 of 3Ukraine accepts demilitarised zone to end Russia war, but do DMZs work?end of listLater in the morning, Thai forces also launched artillery attacks in the Stung Bot area near the border, reported the Cambodian news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse.Cambodia’s defence ministry condemned the attacks as “grave acts of aggression” that intentionally endangered “civilian lives and civilian infrastructure”. It said the attacks in Chouk Chey were “exceptionally ruthless and inhumane”.The violence marks the latest flare-up since renewed clashes broke out on December 8, derailing an expanded ceasefire brokered by the United States and Malaysia in October. Fighting this month has killed at least 96 people, according to authorities on both sides, while displacing about one million people.Defence officials from Thailand and Cambodia held their first talks since renewed clashes started, on Wednesday, though they did not appear to produce any major diplomatic breakthrough.Cambodia’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said the two sides planned to continue further talks under a bilateral border committee on Friday, according to the Anadolu news agency.