Thailand-Cambodia Conflict Continues Despite Ceasefire Deal

Despite Thailand and Cambodia's recent ceasefire deal, conflict between the two neighbors has ramped up over the past few days, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of violating the agreement.

Last week, tensions between Thailand and Cambodia reached their highest point in years, with the two fighting each other near the Ta Muen Thom temple in southern Thailand. Both countries accused each other of beginning the conflict, but it quickly escalated from just ground attacks to airstrikes and eventually major evacuations. Read more into the initial story here.

After days of fighting, over 300,000 people had already been displaced, with a total of 38 fatalities. Negotiations quickly began in Malaysia, with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia meeting to discuss the possibility of peace in the region. They quickly agreed on a deal to stop all fighting, ending the conflict by Monday morning, but Thai authorities warned evacuees to avoid returning home until later on. Additionally, US President Donald Trump swiftly claimed the credit for the ceasefire, with multiple members of his Cabinet and administration praising him later on for his global peace-related efforts.

However, less than 24 hours after the deal went into effect, Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the agreement, with the Thai military reporting attacks in several locations near the border. Cambodia claims that their forces have retreated since then, but Thailand has confirmed that they did strike back after the latest Cambodian offensive. They have maintained their peaceful stance, though, with the prime ministers of both countries clearly expressing their desire to settle the conflict.

Thankfully, since then, no additional fighting has been confirmed, but it is unknown how long this fragile ceasefire will last. In the meantime, residents near both sides of the border have been instructed to avoid returning home until the conflict is completely settled, but authorities are already beginning to assess the damage and evaluate the costs and timeframe of rebuilding the areas affected by the fighting.

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