Thailand says Cambodia attacks will continue, dismissing Trump’s ceasefire claim
Cambodia says Thai F-16 jets are still bombing targets, despite President Trump announcing a ceasefire between the two countries.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has said that military operations against Cambodia will continue, directly contradicting an earlier claim by US President Donald Trump that a ceasefire had been successfully brokered between the two neighbouring countries.
In a strongly worded statement posted on Facebook on Saturday morning, Anutin made it clear that Thailand has no intention of halting its actions for now. I want to make it clear. Our actions this morning already spoke,” he wrote, signalling a firm stance amid rising tensions along the border.
The remarks came just hours after President Trump publicly claimed that his intervention had helped secure a truce between Thailand and Cambodia. However, developments on the ground appeared to tell a very different story, with reports from Cambodia indicating that attacks were continuing even after the ceasefire announcement.
According to local news outlet The Khmer Times, Cambodia’s Ministry of Information said Thai airstrikes had hit civilian-linked infrastructure in the Thmor Da area of Pursat province, which lies along the Thai-Cambodian border. Two hotels were reportedly bombed during the attacks. The outlet published photographs showing heavily damaged hotel and casino buildings, with shattered walls, collapsed roofs and debris scattered across the area.
Cambodian officials described the strikes as a serious escalation, raising concerns about the safety of civilians and tourists in border regions that are usually known for cross-border trade and travel rather than armed conflict. Authorities have not yet released casualty figures, but the images circulating locally have fuelled public anger and anxiety.
The situation appeared to worsen further with reports of naval action along Cambodia’s southern coastline. According to Cambodian sources cited by The Khmer Times, the Thai navy opened fire from a vessel offshore, launching around 20 artillery shells into Koh Kong province. The shells reportedly struck coastal areas, including hotels and beach zones, causing damage to buildings near the shoreline.
Koh Kong is a popular destination for domestic tourists and foreign visitors, known for its beaches and resorts. The reported shelling of hotels and beach areas has heightened fears that the conflict could spill into areas far from the immediate land border, potentially affecting tourism and civilian livelihoods.
Thailand, for its part, has justified its actions as necessary for national security. Anutin’s statement suggested that Bangkok views the current military operations as defensive, aimed at preventing further threats rather than provoking a wider conflict. Thai officials have repeatedly said they will not stop operations until they are confident that their territory and citizens are no longer at risk.
The sharp contradiction between Trump’s ceasefire claim and the reality on the ground has also drawn attention internationally. Analysts say it highlights the fragile and fast-changing nature of the situation, as well as the difficulty of enforcing or even confirming ceasefires when tensions are high and communication between the parties remains strained.
Diplomatic channels between Thailand and Cambodia have not fully broken down, but trust appears to be thin. Cambodian officials have accused Thailand of ignoring calls for restraint, while Thai leaders insist their actions are a response to ongoing threats. Both sides have yet to present clear evidence publicly to support their competing narratives.
As fighting reportedly continues, regional observers warn that further escalation could destabilise the wider Southeast Asian region, particularly if civilian areas keep getting drawn into the conflict. Neighbouring countries and international partners are likely to push for renewed talks, but for now, statements from Bangkok suggest that a halt in military action is not imminent.
With images of bombed hotels and shell-damaged beaches emerging, ordinary citizens on both sides of the border are left facing uncertainty, fearing that a dispute between governments could quickly turn into a prolonged and damaging confrontation.