Trump Claims Leaders Agree to Halt Fighting, But Cambodia Reports Ongoing Airstrikes

By News360.live Staff | December 13, 2025,

US President Donald Trump announced late on Friday that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate halt in hostilities along their disputed border, following days of deadly clashes that have displaced over half a million civilians. However, the truce claim was swiftly challenged by Cambodia, which reported ongoing Thai military operations, including fighter jet attacks, hours after the announcement.

President Trump Announces Agreement on Social Media

In a post on his Truth Social platform on December 12, President Trump claimed he had spoken with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

• Trump’s Post: “They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim.”
• Trump described the leaders as committed to peace, crediting the diplomatic pressure he applied, which included previous threats of trade restrictions following a flare-up in July 2025.

Ground Reality: Thailand Denies Ceasefire, Cambodia Alleges Bombing

The celebratory tone of the US President’s post was contradicted by official statements from the two warring nations, who offered no immediate confirmation of the agreement.

• Thailand’s Stance: Prime Minister Anutin, speaking after his call with Trump but prior to the social media announcement, stated there was no ceasefire. He reiterated Thailand’s position that it would continue to retaliate until Cambodia withdraws its troops from disputed areas and clears landmines along the border. Anutin maintained that Thailand was acting in self-defense against Cambodian violations of the previous accord.
• Cambodia’s Counter-Claim: Early on December 13, Cambodia’s Ministry of Information accused Thailand of continuing to violate the peace agreement. They claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that two Thai F-16 fighter jets dropped seven bombs on Cambodian targets. The ministry asserted, “Thai forces have not stopped the bombing yet and are still continuing the bombing.”

International Community Reactions

The renewed clashes, which intensified around December 7, have drawn serious concern from the international community:

• United Nations: The UN Secretary-General António Guterres on December 8, 2025, urged both parties to exercise restraint, stressing the need to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian relief. Cambodia formally appealed to the UN Security Council on December 10, seeking urgent intervention and an independent fact-finding mission to verify the facts on the ground, including who fired first.
• Malaysia’s Mediation: Prime Minister Anutin remains a key mediator, having helped broker the initial ceasefire in July. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet specifically requested that the US and Malaysia utilize their intelligence-gathering capabilities, such as satellite imagery, to transparently determine which side initiated the fire on December 7.
• Regional Powers: China and Japan have also urged both countries to “exercise restraint” and return to the framework of the October Joint Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur. China’s Foreign Ministry stated it would continue to play a “constructive role in de-escalation.”

Humanitarian Crisis and Conflict Background

The current round of violence has been the deadliest since July, causing a massive humanitarian crisis:

• Casualties & Displacement: Thailand reported nine soldiers killed and over 120 wounded. Cambodia reported the displacement of over 300,000 people on its side. In total, over 500,000 civilians have been evacuated or displaced.
• Root Cause: The conflict is a century-old territorial dispute, stemming from colonial-era mapping, periodically reigniting over control of border areas.

The situation remains volatile, with a clear discrepancy between the international diplomatic efforts and the military actions taking place on the ground.

Source: News Agencies