Phnom penh: Cambodia's Ministry of National Defence said Thai military forces opened fire five times during a border observation visit by foreign military attach©s on Wednesday, calling the incident a violation of the existing ceasefire agreement.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Ministry's Spokesperson H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata stated that Cambodia facilitated the second annual 2026 tour for the Military Attach©s Corps in Phnom Penh (MACPP) to observe conditions at the O' Smach border crossing in Oddar Meanchey province after the ceasefire took effect. The visit commenced at 10:20 a.m., and Cambodian authorities had formally notified Thailand in advance through the Regional Border Committee (RBC) mechanism.
The statement further disclosed that while the delegation was conducting on-site inspections, Thai forces fired weapons on five occasions between 10:35 a.m. and 11:09 a.m., with a total of nine rounds being fired using M79 grenade launchers and M16 rifles. The Ministry described the incident as regrettable, highlighting that Cambodian forces remained on alert while closely monitoring the situation.
The gunfire was said to contradict the spirit of the ceasefire and previous agreements reached by both countries to reduce tensions and promote peace, security, and calm along the border. The Ministry emphasized Cambodia's commitment to resolving disputes peacefully, stressing that lasting peace between the two neighboring countries requires genuine commitment and full respect for international law, the ASEAN Charter, and existing bilateral agreements.
Cambodia also reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee signed on Dec. 27, 2025, the Joint Declaration on the Peace Agreement between Cambodia and Thailand dated Oct. 26, 2025, and other relevant accords. The Ministry stated that Cambodia continues to seek a peaceful, fair, and durable solution in accordance with international law and existing treaties between the two countries.