BANGKOK — Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia intensified on Saturday when Cambodian troops fired small arms and grenade launchers into Thai territory at Chong Anma crossing in Ubon Ratchathani Province, prompting Thai forces to return fire.
Major General Winthai Suvaree, Royal Thai Army spokesperson, reported that between 12:00-12:30 p.m., the 2nd Army Area detected Cambodian troops firing into Thai territory. The Suranaree Task Force responded with retaliatory fire following standard procedures. No Thai casualties were reported.
Maj. Gen. Winthai suggested the incident may be a deliberate provocation, noting that Cambodian International Observer Team (IOT) personnel have frequently inspected the area. “It is anticipated that this constitutes an attempt to create circumstances and provoke Thai forces into retaliatory fire, with the intention of utilizing such incidents as evidence to report that Thai forces have violated ceasefire measures,” he said.
Mutual Accusations and Call for Investigation
Following the brief exchange, both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire and filed complaints with the IOT observer team.
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, posting on social media, claimed Thai forces fired first using “ball guns and machine guns.” He stated that Prime Minister Hun Manet held an urgent online meeting with him to “advise the army to be patient not to respond.”
Hun Sen called on the Malaysian-led ASEAN IOT team to conduct two key investigations: ballistic forensics to identify ammunition types used by both sides, and on-site inspection of shell impact sites to determine the origin and trajectory of fire.
“Cambodian forces are properly preserving shell craters and creating favorable conditions for IOT observers to perform accurate forensic analysis,” Hun Sen wrote. “I hope the Thai side will demonstrate the same level of cooperation. Any refusal to allow inspections by IOT observers would imply guilt on either side.”
Thai Residents Evacuate as Tensions Rise
The Chong Anma incident comes amid two weeks of escalating border tensions across multiple provinces. In Sa Kaeo Province under the 1st Army Area, Thai authorities erected barbed wire fencing at Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew—areas Thailand claims are clearly within its sovereignty but have been occupied by Cambodians despite hundreds of protests.
On September 17 at Ban Nong Ya Kaew, Thai riot control units deployed tear gas and rubber bullets when Cambodian local leaders brought villagers to reclaim the disputed area.
In Sisaket and Surin provinces under the 2nd Army Area, multiple families have evacuated their homes following reports of Cambodian heavy weapons movements near the border. The Saturday gunfire exchange at Chong Anma has prompted additional evacuations from border villages.
Thai military forces remain on high alert across all border positions as diplomatic efforts continue to de-escalate the situation.
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