Cambodia probes border blast, Thailand denies

Cambodia has launched an investigation into a border explosion that injured four soldiers in Oddar Meanchey province, while Thailand has firmly rejected any involvement.

The blast occurred at around 12.35pm on Sunday, 5 July, as Cambodian troops patrolled a cashew plantation in Chouk Kruos village, Banteay Ampil district. According to the Ministry of National Defence, the patrol had just passed a Thai military unit on the opposite side of a barbed-wire fence when an explosive device detonated behind them. Four soldiers sustained shrapnel wounds and are receiving medical treatment.

In a statement on Monday, the ministry said frontline command and expert teams were conducting a “comprehensive, meticulous investigation” to establish the cause of the incident. It stressed Cambodia’s commitment to the ceasefire and peace agreements signed with Thailand in late 2025, pledging to restore stability along the frontier.

The explosion quickly drew public attention after images of the injured soldiers circulated widely on Cambodian social media. Phnom Penh has since briefed foreign missions, accusing Thai forces of reinforcing positions beyond their claimed boundary and urging the resumption of joint survey work to rebuild trust.

Thailand’s 2nd Army Region dismissed suggestions of responsibility, insisting the blast occurred entirely within Cambodian territory. Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree suggested Cambodian troops may have triggered old landmines left behind by their own forces, adding that Thai patrols had not fired any weapons and remained compliant with bilateral agreements.

Analysts in Phnom Penh say the investigation will be crucial. Kin Phea of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia warned that if Thai involvement were proven, it would represent a serious breach of the ceasefire. Cambodia has already lodged more than 30 diplomatic protests over alleged Thai activities in disputed zones since tensions flared again last year.

For now, both governments publicly maintain their commitment to peace. But with soldiers wounded and accusations mounting, the fragile truce along the border faces its sternest test since the December ceasefire.

-2026-07-07