Phnom penh: Pope Leo XIV, Head of the Catholic Church, has called for an immediate halt to the renewed fighting along the Cambodia-Thailand border. 'I am deeply saddened by the news of the renewed conflict along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, which has claimed civilian lives and forced thousands of people to flee their homes. I express my closeness in prayer to these dear peoples, and I call on all sides to immediately cease fire and resume dialogue,' Pope Leo XIV wrote on X on Dec. 10.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Thai military has renewed its attacks on Cambodian territory since Dec. 7, expanding operations across multiple locations in the provinces of Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Battambang, and Pursat. These operations have involved the use of heavy weapons, F-16 fighter jets, and toxic gas. The conflict has resulted in civilian casualties, damage to homes, temples, and health centers, the temporary closure of hundreds of schools, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
In a message posted by the British Embassy in Cambodia, H.E. Ms. Seema Malhotra MP, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, urged both sides to urgently show restraint, protect civilians, and return to dialogue. Cambodia has stated that it has no choice but to counterattack in self-defence following repeated violations of its territorial integrity and after exercising more than 24 hours of maximum restraint.