Shelling along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border entered a third consecutive day on Tuesday, with Cambodia's Defence Ministry reporting two additional civilian deaths from Thai artillery strikes overnight, elevating the toll to six since Monday. Rockets fired from Cambodian positions also struck two homes in Thailand's Trat province near the frontier, injuring residents and prompting evacuations. The exchanges, the fiercest since July's five-day barrage that killed 48 and displaced 300,000, have left one Thai soldier dead and nearly 30 wounded, shattering a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and reigniting fears of full-scale war along the 800-kilometre frontier.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul authorised continued offensive operations, including Monday's airstrikes—the first since July—to repel what the military described as Cambodian encroachments. Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree accused Phnom Penh of deploying snipers and heavy weapons and digging trenches in Thai territory, labelling it a "direct threat to sovereignty". The Thai air force and navy have been placed on high alert, with ground troops advancing to secure border posts amid reports of intensified shelling targeting civilian areas on both sides.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned the Thai response as disproportionate, particularly the bombing of villages, and urged immediate de-escalation to protect non-combatants. Cambodia maintains its forces acted defensively against Thai provocations, denying any territorial violations. The clashes trace back to a May skirmish that killed a Cambodian soldier, leading to massive buildups and the July crisis resolved by President Donald Trump's mediation, now at risk of collapse alongside other fragile truces.

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Rooted in over a century of rivalry, the conflict centres on undemarcated jungle areas and UNESCO-listed temples like Preah Vihear, awarded to Cambodia in 1962 but claimed by Bangkok. Past flare-ups, including 2011's deadly week-long artillery duel, have strained ASEAN cohesion and bilateral trade worth billions. Humanitarian agencies warn of refugee surges, with thousands already fleeing border villages.

International calls for restraint have mounted, but mutual blame—Thailand citing rocket attacks on homes, Cambodia decrying civilian targeting—shows no resolution. Analysts fear escalation could draw in regional powers, disrupting supply chains and tourism in Southeast Asia's volatile hotspot.

As fighting rages, both governments face domestic pressure: Thailand's coalition risks instability, while Cambodia's leadership leverages nationalism. Without swift diplomacy, the border could become a prolonged flashpoint, testing Trump's peace legacy and ASEAN's mediation capacity.

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