Bangkok, December 13th, 2025
Thailand’s Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has confirmed that four Thai soldiers were killed and three others injured by shrapnel during intense fighting at Hill 677 in the Chong An Ma area of Ubon Ratchathani province. The soldiers were on a mission to secure the strategic high ground when the incident occurred, according to official reports.
The clash at Hill 677, a key elevated position overlooking the disputed border region, shows the escalating violence in a renewed armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia that erupted earlier this month. Thai military sources described the engagement as fierce, with forces responding to heavy artillery and rocket fire from Cambodian positions.
This incident is part of broader hostilities along the 800-kilometer border, which reignited on December 7th after Cambodian troops allegedly fired on a Thai patrol, wounding two soldiers. Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating a ceasefire brokered earlier in 2025, while Phnom Penh claims Thai forces initiated aggressions. The fighting has involved artillery barrages, drone attacks, airstrikes by Thai F-16 jets, and ground assaults across multiple provinces, including Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, and Buriram.
As of December 12th, Thai authorities report at least 11 soldiers killed since the latest flare-up began, with dozens wounded. Cambodian casualty figures remain contested, with Thai claims of over 100 enemy troops killed, while Phnom Penh reports civilian deaths from Thai strikes. Hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides have been evacuated, and damage to homes, farmland, and infrastructure has been extensive.
Hill 677 and the surrounding Chong An Ma sector have emerged as focal points in the dispute, with Thai forces announcing full control of the area following counter-attacks. The broader conflict stems from longstanding territorial ambiguities dating back to colonial-era treaties, particularly around ancient temple sites like Preah Vihear, though current fighting spans multiple contested zones.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has stated that military actions are defensive, aimed at protecting national sovereignty. International efforts, including calls from U.S. President Donald Trump referencing a prior ceasefire agreement, have so far failed to halt the violence. Both nations continue to trade accusations as diplomatic channels remain limited.
Photos: Royal Thai Army of various conflict areas from the past day.
