UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concerns over the renewed armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, urging both countries to avoid further escalation as tensions escalated along the border.

"The Secretary-General is concerned by reports of renewed armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, particularly the reported airstrikes and mobilization of heavy equipment in the border area. He urges both parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation," said a statement by Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

The statement also noted that the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has already resulted in significant civilian casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure, and displacement on both sides of the border. The Secretary-General stresses that "both parties must protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian relief."

He called on both parties to return to the framework of the Joint Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur on 26 October, recommit to the ceasefire and implement de-escalation and confidence-building measures.  He also urged both parties to make full use of all mechanisms for dialogue to find a lasting solution to the dispute through peaceful means.

"The United Nations stands ready to support all efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability and development in the region", said the statement.

The fresh tension between Thailand and Cambodia stemmed from an incident on the evening of Sunday (7 December) where both sides traded accusations of opening fire with small arms along the disputed border in Sisaket’s Kantharalak District and the Chong Bok area of Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen District. The exchange of fire lasted for 35 minutes and left two Thai soldiers injured.

A new wave of deadly border clashes was reported in Ubon Ratchathani on the following day (8 December). The violence later spread to Surin and Buriram provinces, resulting in three soldier killed and 18 injured (as of 9 December). The Thai military said that Cambodia launched BM-21 rockets into residential areas, but no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, Kiripost reported that four Cambodian civilians in Oddar Meanchey province have been reportedly killed and nine injured in the exchange of fire.

Both parties just signed a peace agreement presided over by Donald Trump and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 26 October. 

However, just two weeks after the historic peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, Thailand unilaterally announced it had suspended the agreement after Thai soldiers were injured in the latest landmine incident on 10 November.