Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
UPDATES:
5:53 pm: Cambodia’s 4th Military Region covering Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear province experienced continued fighting from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on December 16, 2025, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
- From 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m: The Thai military launched heavy attacks on the Preah Vihea temple area and used bomb-equipped drones, 155mm-artillery, and other weapons to strike Phnom Khmoch, An Ses, Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda, Chob Angkounh area, Ta Krabei temple, and Thmar Chat.
Armed strikes on Cambodia’s 5th Military Region in Banteay Meanchey and Pursat Provinces continued from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on December 16, 2025.
- From 11:19 a.m to 4:17 p.m: The Thai military continued firing areas in Chouk Chey village, O’ Phlok Damrei, Thmar Da area, and C1 border.
5:21 pm: Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC) has approved enhanced measures to monitor gasoline and military material imports to Cambodia on December 16, 2025, according to local Thai news.
Chatchai Bangchuad, Secretary-General of the NSC said that the navy will coordinate with relevant agencies to notify Thai vessels entering high-risk areas and work with the Marine Department to inspect Thai cargo ships traveling to Cambodia, ensuring no shipments facilitate prohibited activities.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham) has raised concerns with the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh over the Thai military suggesting that Cambodian ports could be designated as “high risk” and fuel shipments blocked.
“We would like to communicate our urgent concern regarding Thai military statements that Thailand may designate Cambodian ports as ‘high risk’ and blockade shipments of fuel and other goods,” said Casey Barnett, president of AmCham.
2:30 pm: As of 7:00 a.m. on December 16, 2025, a total of 126,508 families or 422,698 people have been displaced in the Preah Vihea, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, and Siem Reap provinces.
2:20 pm: According to the Ministry of Education, as of December 16, some 6,388 displaced students have temporarily enrolled in 1,163 educational institutions across 20 provincial capitals.
2:20 pm: Firing at the 4th Military Region in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear province has continued from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 2025:
- 8:48 a.m: The Thai forces launched a heavy strike in the An Ses area.
- 9:25 a.m: The Thai militaries fired from their machine-gun-equipped tanks into the Phnom Khmoch area.
- 9:30 a.m to 11:00 a.m: the Thai forces continued utilizing tanks, artillery, bombing drones, and Kamikaze drones in the Ta Krabei Temple, Phnom 333, Thmar Chat, Chob Angkounh, Thmar Daun, Phnom Khmoch, and O’ Smach areas.
Armed strikes on Cambodia’s 5th Military Region in Banteay Meanchey and Pursat Provinces continued on December 16, 2025 from 08:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- 08:18 a.m: The Thai militaries struck into the Boeung Trakuon area.
- From 09:49 a.m. until 11:00 a.m: the Thai navy continued shelling from the naval vessel into the O’ Phlok Damrei area, and the shelling continues up to now.
- 10:50 a.m: Firing at Chouk Chey village by the Thai militaries persisted.
1:05 pm: Firing at Cambodia’s 4th in Oddor Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces has been non-stop since 1 a.m on December 16, the National Defense Ministry said:
- 01:00 a.m: The Thai military kept shelling areas of Ta Krabei and Chob Angkounh.
- 05:30 a.m: The Thai forces started firing 155mm-artillery into the Preah Vihear temple area.
- 06:00 a.m: The Thai military shelled Ta Krabei Temple, Tamoan Temple, and Thmar Daun area.
- 07:20 a.m: Using tank-mounted machine guns, the Thai forces fired at the Phnom Khmoch area.
Armed strikes on Cambodia’s 5th Military Region persisted on December 16, 2025:
- 12:14 a.m: Thai navy continued firing from naval vessels in the area of O’ Phlok Damrei.
- 6:25 a.m: The Thai military forces struck the area of Chouk Chey village.
- 6:30 a.m: Firing in the area of Prey Chan village continued.
- 7:10 a.m: The Thai infantry intended to infiltrate the area of Prey Chan village using tanks.
- 7:36 a.m: Toxic smoke was released by Thai troops at Prey Chan village.
12:25 pm: According to the Ministry of Interior, the Thai forces launched fresh assaults on civilian areas in Ph’ong Village, Koun Kriel Commune in Samraong City, Oddar Meanchey province, damaging people’s homes and market stalls on the morning of December 16, 2025. The village is located approximately 30 kilometers from the Thai border.
10:55 am: Speaking at a press conference on the Cambodia-Thailand conflict, government spokesperson Pen Bona said the Thai forces violated Cambodia’s territory and sovereignty by practicing weapons and psychological wars.
The Thai military used heavy weapons, such as artillery, bomb-equipped drones, and toxic gas, he said, adding that psychological war was threatening Cambodian citizens.
“This [psychological war] is dangerous if [citizens] do not understand and take care as it leads to a trap,” Pen Bona said.
The psychological war aims to discourage the Cambodian forces and citizens as well as destroy the solidarity between the government and Cambodians and render the country weak, Bona explained. Thailand has been using many strategies, such as using fake Facebook accounts with the Khmer names to serve their purpose, he said.
The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict entered its tenth day with attacks at the 4th and the 5th Military Region covering some areas at Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear and Pursat provinces.
National Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said during the morning press briefing that the Thai military fired toxic gas at Prey Chan village.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Guo Jiakun on Monday expressed hope that both sides will exercise restraint, take necessary steps to cease fighting, and deescalate as soon as possible.
British Ambassador to Cambodia Dominic Williams shared his concerns about how the border situation is affecting civilians, and hoped to see an end to hostilities.
The number of civilian deaths has reached 15, with 74 people injured as of 6:00 p.m. on December 15 while displaced people amounted to more than 420,000 people, the Interior Ministry said.
