Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia intensify with airstrikes and artillery attacks

SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Cambodia said Thailand launched more airstrikes Thursday, as heavy fighting flared along the two countries' border and both sides accused the other of violating their sovereignty along the contested border region.

The latest large-scale fighting was set off by a skirmish Sunday that wounded two Thai soldiers and derailed a ceasefire pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump that ended five days of combat in July over longstanding territorial disputes.

About two dozen people were reported killed in the fighting this week, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides of the border.

The Cambodian Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday that a Thai military fighting jet dropped three bombs in the border area. Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata accused Thailand of violating international laws by the use of “all kinds of heavy weapons and the deployment of large number of troops to encroach the Cambodian territory.”

Earlier, the Thai Army said Cambodia launched an attack on Wednesday night with artillery and mortars against Thai positions.

The Thai Army said it responded with the same kinds of heavy weapons, causing damage including “the destruction of enemy trucks.” But Air Force Spokesperson Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai did not confirm nor deny that airstrikes took place on Thursday.

The Thai air force would “continue its air operations until the opposing side ceases all efforts that threaten Thailand’s sovereignty, security, and the safety of the Thai people,” he said in a televised speech.

The combat has drawn international concern, including from Pope Leo XIV, who told an audience at the Vatican on Wednesday that he was “deeply saddened by the news of the renewed conflict.”

“There have been casualties, including among civilians, and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes," Leo said. “I express my closeness in prayer to these dear peoples.”

The original ceasefire in July was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. It was formalized in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that Trump attended.

Despite the deal, the two countries carried on a bitter propaganda war and minor cross-border violence continued. Cambodia complained that Thailand did not return 18 soldiers it captured as the ceasefire was coming into effect, while Thailand protested after soldiers patrolling the frontier were wounded by land mines, which it alleges were newly laid by Cambodia. Cambodia insisted that the mines were left over from its decades of civil war that ended in 1999.

Trump said he expects to speak by phone with the two leaders on Thursday, and expressed confidence that he would persuade the two sides to stop the fighting.

“I think I can get them to stop fighting. Who else can do that?” Trump said on Wednesday in an exchange with reporters, in which he also repeated his exaggerated claim of settling eight wars around the globe since his return to the White House. “Every once in a while, one will flame up again and I have to put out that little flame.”

The U.S. had yet to contact Thailand following Trump’s latest remarks, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters in Bangkok on Thursday.

Anutin, reflecting nationalistic public sentiment, has repeatedly vowed to continue fighting until Thailand's sovereignty and security are assured.

Thailand has deployed jet fighters to carry out airstrikes on what it says are military targets. Cambodia has deployed BM-21 rocket launchers with a range of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles).

According to data collected by public broadcaster ThaiPBS, at least six of the Thai soldiers who were killed were hit by rocket shrapnel.

The Thai army’s northeastern regional command said Thursday that some residential areas and homes near the border were damaged by BM-21 rocket launchers from Cambodian forces.

The Thai army also said it destroyed a tall crane atop a hill held by Cambodia where the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple is located, because it allegedly held electronic and optical devices used for military command and control purposes.

Thailand’s military announced Thursday that nine of its soldiers have been killed since Monday. Officials said four civilians have also died, but not as a direct result of the clashes; they had underlying health issues and most died while they were being evacuated. The military also said that more than 120 troops have been wounded.

Cambodia said Thursday that 11 civilians on its side have died and 74 others have been wounded.

The U.N.’s cultural agency, UNESCO, on Wednesday expressed its “strong concern” over fighting in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple, which it has designated a World Heritage site.

“UNESCO stands ready to provide the necessary technical assistance to ensure the protection of cultural property and implement any necessary safeguarding measures as soon as conditions allow,” it said.

The roots of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict lie in a history of enmity over competing territorial claims. These claims largely stem from a 1907 map created while Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand maintains is inaccurate. Tensions were exacerbated by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded sovereignty to Cambodia, which still riles many Thais.

Sopheng Cheang in Srei Snam, Cambodia, Wasamon Audjarint in Bangkok and Matthew Lee and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

This shows a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This shows a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Evacuees wait for receiving a pot to cook rice as they take refuge at Chonkal in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after fleeing homes following a fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over territorial claims. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Evacuees wait for registration as they take refuge at Chonkal in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after fleeing from home following a fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over territorial claims. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A woman plays with a dog as she takes refuge at Chonkal district in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after fleeing from home following a fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over territorial claims. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Justin Foscue finally went deep for the first time in the big leagues with the Texas Rangers. That home run created a much happier highlight than the embarrassing blooper-reel moment he knows he will see often in the future after running into their two-time World Series MVP shortstop.

“Getting your first home run is a big deal. ... And I almost took out the star shortstop,” Foscue said. “A lot of ups and downs.”

Foscue, a first-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2020, hit his first career homer Saturday night in the Rangers’ 6-0 victory that snapped the Chicago Cubs’ 10-game winning streak.

“It was a big relief for me,” he said. “It is the best moment of my career so far.”

That came roughly 24 hours after he was playing second base and collided with Corey Seager, who was moving to his left to field a grounder up the middle. The ball squirted past as the infielders tumbled to the ground behind the bag. Neither was injured, but Foscue was charged with an error for causing the mishap in that 7-1 loss.

“Nobody feels worse (for) running into Corey Seager. Trust me, he did not want to do that,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I think it was big of Corey to go up to him and say, it’s gonna be all right, you know, don’t worry about it.”

Seager actually texted Foscue after that game to let him know everything was good.

“That really meant a lot,” Foscue said. “I said I’m glad you’re OK.”

Foscue had entered the series opener against the Cubs as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning, and his RBI single produced the only Texas run. The fielding blooper to open the seventh led to three unearned runs for Chicago.

When the Rangers gave struggling Jake Burger a break Saturday night, Foscue started at first base.

“If (Seager) would have gotten hurt, then I don’t know if I would be here,” Foscue said after his 23th big league game since his debut in 2024. It was his fourth game this season since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock after second baseman Josh Smith went on the injured list.

Instead, Foscue stayed and Schumaker was even making light of the fielding blooper with a joke about it during the hitters meeting before Saturday’s game.

“Kind of lightens it a little bit,” Foscue said. “Stuff like that happens in baseball, and I hate that I was the one, that I was part of it, and I cannot believe that it happened still. ... You can’t think about the day before. If you do that, you’re gonna be carrying a lot of baggage with you.”

In the clubhouse after hitting his first home, Foscue got a celebratory beer shower from his teammates.

“It’s how you bounce back,” Schumaker said. “That shows you what kind of person and what kind of character you have.”

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Texas Rangers' Justin Foscue runs the bases after hitting his first career home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas Rangers' Justin Foscue loads up while waiting for a pitch from the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas Rangers' Justin Foscue (14) reacts with manager Skip Schumaker, second from left, and staff after hitting his first career home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, left, and second baseman Justin Foscue collide while fielding a ball hit by Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)