Cambodia-Thailand border war enters fourth day: Heavy shelling despite ceasefire calls; both sides signal openness to talks after US intervention

A deadly border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand has entered its fourth consecutive day, with both nations exchanging heavy artillery fire and reporting mounting civilian and military casualties. The hostilities, the worst in over a decade, have prompted international concern and intervention from US President Donald Trump, who urged both sides to agree to a ceasefire.The clashes, sparked by a long-running dispute over ancient temple sites and aggravated by political tensions, have already killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 along the heavily contested 800-kilometre border.Cambodia open to ceasefire talks as Trump steps in tooCambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Sunday that his government was open to discussing a ceasefire and welcomed US efforts to mediate.“Just spoke to the Prime Minister of Cambodia relative to stopping the War with Thailand. I am calling the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, right now, to likewise request a Ceasefire, and END to the War, which is currently raging,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.Hun Manet confirmed that Cambodia’s foreign minister would coordinate directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and work with Thailand to pursue dialogue, according to AFP. However, he also warned Bangkok against backtracking on any agreement.Thailand signals conditional support for ceasefireThailand, meanwhile, said late Saturday that it “agrees in principle” to a ceasefire and the start of “bilateral dialogue” aimed at ending the violence. “Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place,” the foreign ministry stated in a post on X.The Thai foreign ministry also confirmed the phone call between Trump and Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, adding: “Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.”Fighting spreads to coastline as casualties mountIt further said Phumtham requested Trump to “convey to the Cambodian side that Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict.”Fighting spreads to coastline as casualties mountDespite growing calls for peace, hostilities have continued. Early Saturday, fighting erupted along the countries’ coastal regions near the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 250 kilometres southwest of the main conflict zone.Cambodia’s defence ministry reported that 13 people- including eight civilians and five soldiers- had been killed on their side, with 71 injured. Thai officials said 13 civilians and seven soldiers had died in their territory.AFP journalists stationed in Samraong, a Cambodian town 20 kilometres from the conflict zone, reported hearing the consistent sound of artillery since dawn on Sunday.Civilians displaced, accusations flyThe conflict has forced more than 138,000 people to flee Thailand’s border regions and displaced over 35,000 inside Cambodia.“It feels like I'm escaping a war zone,” said 76-year-old Samlee Sornchai, sheltering at a temple in the Thai town of Kanthararom after fleeing his farm near the frontline, told AFP.Each side has blamed the other for escalating the violence. Cambodia accused Thailand of firing “five heavy artillery shells” into Pursat province, while Thailand alleged that Cambodia targeted civilian infrastructure, including a hospital. Cambodia has also claimed Thai forces used cluster munitions, a charge Thailand denies.UN urges ceasefire, warns of humanitarian tollFollowing an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both countries to immediately cease hostilities.“The Secretary-General condemns the tragic and unnecessary loss of lives, injuries to civilians and the damage to homes and infrastructure on both sides,” said his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.He added that Guterres remained “deeply concerned” and urged both governments to hold talks for a peaceful solution.Political fallout and historical tensionsThe fighting has revived long-simmering disputes over territory and ancient temples along the rugged, jungle-covered border. A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the issue temporarily, but tensions flared again in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish, followed by two Thai soldiers losing limbs in landmine blasts in July. Tensions quickly escalated, reviving a century-old dispute over the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, which both nations claim. Though the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962- and reaffirmed in 2013- that the temple and surrounding land belong to Cambodia, Thailand continues to contest a 4.6 sq km area around it, making the site a persistent flashpoint.