In the period leading up to the planned General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, reporting indicates that military activity has extended beyond the immediate Thai–Cambodian border area. Incidents reported in Banan District, Battambang Province, suggest that the operational area has reached communities well inside Cambodian territory.
According to Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, on 24 December 2025, Thai air assets, identified as T-50 fighter aircraft, carried out four airstrikes affecting civilian areas and infrastructure in Banan District. The district is located approximately 167 kilometres from the Thai–Cambodian border. Cambodian authorities reported that two civilians were seriously injured, including one child.
These reported locations place the incidents far from the active border zone where earlier clashes had occurred.
Legal and Analytical Context
Under international humanitarian law, parties to an armed conflict are required to distinguish at all times between military objectives and civilian objects. They must also apply the principle of proportionality, which prohibits attacks expected to cause civilian harm excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.
When airstrikes affect populated areas and civilian infrastructure, the key analytical question is whether these obligations have been met. Distance from the frontline, the nature of the targets, and the resulting civilian harm are all relevant factors in assessing military necessity and precautionary measures.
In this context, transparent public explanations and access to credible fact-finding mechanisms are essential. Independent verification helps clarify events, reduces the risk of miscalculation, and supports accountability under international law.
Diplomatic Timing and Regional Implications
The timing of the reported airstrikes is diplomatically sensitive. They occurred shortly before scheduled talks in Chanthaburi, Thailand, which aim to prepare the ground for a possible ministerial-level meeting on 27 December.
Escalation close to negotiations tends to undermine trust and complicate ceasefire planning. At the same time, Thailand has reiterated its position that Cambodia must first demonstrate a genuine, verifiable, and sustained ceasefire before ministerial talks can proceed. This sequencing places significant weight on unilateral steps and leaves limited space for reciprocal confidence-building measures.
For both parties, maintaining a ceasefire is difficult if violence continues or if there is no shared mechanism to confirm facts on the ground.
Author: Kheav Chantharina