Bangkok, January 6, 2026 – Thailand’s military says Cambodia claimed a recent mortar strike was accidental, after a Thai soldier was wounded in a disputed border region, even as a ceasefire agreed in late December continues.

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning in Ubon Ratchathani province, near the long-disputed Thai-Cambodia border. Thai forces initially accused Cambodia of violating the 10-day-old truce after shelling the area.

Cambodia Calls Incident an “Operational Error”

In a follow-up statement, the Thai army said Cambodian officials contacted them to clarify that the strike was unintentional.

“There was no intention to fire into Thai territory. The incident was caused by an operational error by Cambodian personnel,” the statement read.

Thailand confirmed one soldier was wounded by shrapnel and evacuated for treatment. The Thai military warned that future mistakes could prompt defensive action.

Decades-Long Border Dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have a centuries-old territorial dispute over colonial-era border demarcations, including claims to ancient temple ruins along the roughly 800 km (500-mile) border.

Last year’s clashes displaced around one million people and killed dozens on both sides. The December 27 truce pledged to cease hostilities, freeze troop movements, and cooperate on demining.

Bangkok also released 18 Cambodian soldiers detained since July 2025 as a confidence-building measure. Cambodia welcomed the gesture, expressing hope it would improve mutual trust.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite the truce, tensions remain high. Cambodia recently called on Thailand to withdraw forces from contested areas, while Bangkok insists its troops remain on Thai territory.

Both countries plan further discussions to resolve the border demarcation, with Cambodia proposing a bilateral meeting in Siem Reap province this month. Thailand has indicated that some talks may need to wait until after its elections on February 8, 2026.

“While fighting has stopped, the border dispute remains unresolved,” the Thai military said.