The Thai military has continued to launch attacks on Cambodian territory, including the alleged use of poisonous smoke. Shelling and airstrikes by Thai forces had caused the deaths of at least seven Cambodian civilians and injured 20 others as of 6am this morning, December 9, according to a preliminary statement from the Ministry of National Defence.
Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata reported that along the border in Military Region 5, from 8.39pm on Monday night until 8am this morning, Thai military carried out intense shelling on Chhok Chey and Prey Chan villages, flew surveillance drones into the Boeng Trakuon area, and expanded their operations into the Boeng Pring area of Thma Puok district and Kamrieng district of Battambang province, using various types of heavy weapons.
“Two civilians traveling along National Road 56 were killed by Thai artillery fire in Thma Puok district of Banteay Meanchey province last night,” she added.
Later, from 4.58am to 5.24am, the Thai military used large drones for surveillance and bombing missions in the Phnom Trangol area, and also “conducted chemical smoke attacks”. Then, from 5.30am, they began shelling the O’ Phluk Damrey area with 105 mm artillery guns.
In Military Region 4, from 4.45am until 8.00am, the Thai military also launched attacks, using tanks, armoured vehicles and “chemical smoke attacks” in several locations. These included the areas of Phnom Khmaoch, and expanded further into Ta Thav, Ta Mone Temple, Ta Krabei Temple, Preah Vihear Temple, Khnar Temple, Veal Indry, Kol 8, Bos Sbov, Chham Te, An Ses, Thmor Daun, O’ Smach, Phnom Anusavary and near Wat Kew Sokhakiri Svarak.
“According to preliminary information from provincial authorities, the Thai attacks on Cambodian civilians from yesterday until 6am on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, resulted in 7 civilian deaths and 20 injuries,” said Socheata.
The Ministry of Information reported that the casualties were from the provinces of Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey.
“The Thai side has targeted civilians by firing into civilian villages such as Prey Chan and Chhok Chey, and other areas. In some places, they fired up to 28 kilometres inside Cambodian territory,” The ministry stated.
The defence ministry issued a strong condemnation, calling the attacks “inhumane and brutal”. It emphasised that the Thai side has clearly violated the ceasefire and the Joint Statement on the Cambodia–Thailand Peace Agreement, signed on October 26 by the prime ministers of both countries. Witnesses included Donald Trump, President of the United States, and Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and ASEAN chair.
“Due to the aggressive actions of the Thai military forces, which initiated firing and encroachment on Cambodia’s legitimate sovereignty, the Cambodian armed forces had no other choice but to exercise their right to self-defence within their sovereign territory and to protect our motherland against the illegal acts of aggression by the Thai military forces, as enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter,” said the ministry statement.
“In this regard, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces remain steadfast and unwavering in their commitment to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of our people against Thailand’s barbaric and vicious acts of aggression,” it added.
