Fresh border clashes triggered shop closures and panic buying as terrified residents fled their homes in eastern Thailand.

Locals queued with cars and motorcycles along Sukhumvit Road as they refueled at a local petrol station on December 8.

Officials had ordered mass evacuations along the border 'until further notice'.

Resident Lamiat Chuichai, who was travelling with a bedridden relative and her husband, said: 'We live in Ban Nong Ri, just over a kilometre from the border. We are on our way to the shelter. This is my second evacuation, and it's very stressful, but I urge the soldiers to keep fighting for our country.'

Even 24-hour convenience stores were closing as panic spread, with staff pulling down the shutters while preparing to leave.

Employee Thai Hoisang, 51, said: 'My family and I will be staying at a relative's house in Chanthaburi. We have sick and elderly family members so we must evacuate early.'

Thailand said it has launched airstrikes along the disputed frontier with Cambodia as both sides accused the other of triggering fresh fighting.

The Thai army said at least three Thai soldiers have been killed in the clashes.

In a statement, the Royal Thai Army said: 'On December 7, 2025, at 2:15 p.m., Cambodian troops used weapons to attack Thai forces in the area of Phu Pha Lek–Phlan Hin Paet Kon, Kantharalak District, Sisaket Province, resulting in two Thai soldiers being injured.

'Major General Winthai Suvaree, Army spokesperson, stated that the incident occurred while Thai forces were carrying out a mission to improve a road within Thai sovereign territory. A group of Cambodian soldiers opened fire on the security team protecting the Thai engineering unit working on the road. Thai forces then returned fire, leading to a clash that lasted about 15–20 minutes.

'He confirmed that Cambodian forces initiated the use of weapons first, with the apparent aim of causing Thai casualties and losses. This was similar to Cambodia's repeated practice of secretly planting landmines inside Thai sovereign territory, intended to obstruct Thailand's operations to clear mines and improve routes for security missions along the border.

'Such behavior constitutes a deliberate violation of agreements and is believed to potentially undermine mechanisms of cooperation in maintaining peace along the border—efforts that Thailand has consistently pursued.

'He emphasized that Thailand's use of weapons adhered strictly to the rules of engagement, was necessary for self-defense under international principles, and was proportionate to respond to actions that posed a threat to national security.'

While the Cambodian defense ministry said at least seven civilians were killed and 20 were wounded in the shelling as of Tuesday morning, December 9.

It said in a statement on X: 'The statement published by the official page of the Royal Thai Army, as well as by several Thai media outlets, alleging that Cambodia initiated the attack using heavy and destructive weapons and equipment along the Cambodia-Thailand border, is false information. In fact, the Thai military forces launched the attack on the Cambodian forces at approximately 05:00 AM in the morning of December 8, 2025. It should be noted that this attack occurred after the Thai forces engaged in numerous provocative actions for many days, especially the incident yesterday at Prorlean Thmar area, with the objective of instigating confrontations.

'Standing on the spirit of respecting all previous agreements and resolving conflicts peacefully according to international law, Cambodia did not retaliate at all during the two assaults and continues to monitor the situation vigilantly and with utmost caution. Additionally, Cambodia, for the second time, has informed the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) about this incident and plans to request the AOT to conduct an investigation into the matter to ensure transparency, justice, and impartiality.'

Thailand and Cambodia have been fighting for more than a century over several undemarcated sections of their 817-kilometre (508-mile) border, which was originally mapped by France in 1907 while Cambodia was still its protectorate.

But tensions flared in the long-disputed frontier as both accused each other of instigating violence on July 24, which killed at least 48 and temporarily displaced some 300,000 on both sides of the border.

Cambodia claimed responsibility for the alleged war crime of firing rockets into Thailand that struck a gas station, killing a number of children.

The two nations have reached a shaky truce following talks facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

But the peace deal, brokered by US President Donald Trump, fell through as Thailand accused Cambodia of laying fresh landmines that have maimed soldiers along the disputed frontier.