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Cambodia Clarifies Border Shelling Was Error, Proposes New Talks

A Cambodian mortar round landed in Thai territory, injuring one soldier, which Cambodia states was an operational error. Thai military authorities report the wounded soldier is in stable condition. While over 440,000 Cambodian evacuees have returned home following recent clashes, more than 200,000 remain displaced. Cambodia has formally re-invited Thailand to a special border demarcation meeting in Siem Reap later in January 2026.

Key Points: Cambodia-Thailand Border Incident: Ceasefire Holds Amid Talks

  • Cambodia clarifies border shelling was an error
  • One Thai soldier injured, not life-threatening
  • Ceasefire agreed in late 2025 remains in effect
  • Over 440,000 Cambodian evacuees have returned home
  • Cambodia re-proposes border demarcation meeting for January 2026
2 min read

Cambodia says no intent to fire into Thai territory: Army

Cambodia says mortar fire into Thailand was an operational error, injuring one soldier. Both sides reaffirm ceasefire as thousands of evacuees return home.

"the incident had been caused by an operational error committed by Cambodian forces during a mission - Winthai Suvaree"

Bangkok, Jan 6

Thai Army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree stated on Tuesday that the Cambodian side has contacted local Thai military units, claiming it had no intention of firing into Thai territory.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Thai military stated on social media that Cambodia violated the ceasefire agreement by firing a mortar round in the border area at around 7:25 a.m. local time on the day, leaving one Thai soldier injured.

The Cambodian side said the incident had been caused by an operational error committed by Cambodian forces during a mission, Winthai said.

The blast wounded one Thai soldier, who sustained shrapnel injuries to his right arm, Thailand's 2nd Area Command said in a statement, adding that medical evaluations confirmed the serviceman is not in a life-threatening condition, Xinhua news agency reported.

The command noted that the cause of the explosion remains under investigation. It has ordered all subordinate units to step up vigilance during operational deployments to safeguard the safety of military personnel and residents, adding that relevant updates will be released in a timely manner.

Some 68.4 per cent of the Cambodian evacuees from a recent border conflict with Thailand have returned to their homes so far, Cambodia's Interior Ministry Spokesperson Touch Sokhak said on Tuesday.

Sokhak said that about 444,179 out of 649,023 Cambodian evacuees have returned to their homes.

"Roughly 204,844 people, including 108,466 women and 66,892 children, remain in displacement camps," he said in a press briefing.

Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an immediate ceasefire on December 27, 2025, after three weeks of armed conflict that caused casualties on both sides.

Cambodia on Monday re-proposed to Thailand to convene a special meeting on border demarcation in the second or third week of January in Cambodia's Siem Reap province, said a press release from Cambodia's State Secretariat of Border Affairs.

The Cambodian side has once again requested the Thai side, through a Note Verbale dated January 5, 2026, to convene a special meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission in the second or third week of January 2026 in Siem Reap province, it said.

The re-proposed meeting aims to discuss the survey and demarcation works, as well as address the issue that Thai military forces have been conducting activities violating Cambodia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, the press release said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Reading about the 200,000+ people still in displacement camps, including so many children, is heartbreaking. The ceasefire is a first step, but the real work of resettlement and rebuilding lives is just beginning. The international community should offer more support.
A
Arjun K
As an Indian, I understand how sensitive border issues can be. It's positive that communication channels are open and they are talking about a meeting. A strong diplomatic dialogue is the only way forward to prevent escalation. Jai Hind.
P
Priyanka N
While I appreciate Cambodia's clarification, calling it an "operational error" after a soldier was injured feels a bit dismissive. Accountability is important in such matters to build lasting trust. Hope the investigation is transparent.
V
Vikram M
The numbers are staggering - over 600,000 people displaced. This shows the massive human cost of conflict, which often gets lost in the political and military statements. The focus must be on getting every single family back home safely.
D
David E
The immediate ceasefire in late December and now this push for a border demarcation meeting are good signs. It's in the interest of both ASEAN neighbors to resolve this peacefully. Stability in Southeast Asia benefits everyone.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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