Hot! Thai troops destroy Cambodian homes in contested border areas. This was reported by the human rights group LICADHO on Tuesday (20/1/2026).
A decades-long border dispute between the Southeast Asian countries erupted into military clashes several times last year. In December last year, fighting killed dozens of people and displaced around a million others on both sides.
The two countries agreed to a ceasefire in late December, ending three weeks of fighting.
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However, after that, Cambodian authorities said Thai troops captured several areas in four border provinces. Cambodia also demanded the withdrawal of Thai troops from territory claimed by Cambodia.
The Thai military denies using force to seize Cambodian territory, and insists its troops are present in areas that have always belonged to Thailand.
Reported by the news agency AFPTuesday (20/1/2026), human rights group LICADHO on Tuesday (20/1), said that “a large number of houses and buildings” in Thai-controlled areas in two villages in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, “have been destroyed and cleared by Thai forces” following the December 27 ceasefire.
“The destruction of civilian homes during conflict is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and international human rights law, regardless of which side of the border the homes are on,” LICADHO said in a statement.
The destruction took place in disputed areas claimed by both countries, the organization said.
Houses were also destroyed on land recognized by both sides as belonging to Thailand, and land recognized by both sides as belonging to Cambodia, citing imagery from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite as well as images and footage published by the media.
“The post-ceasefire cleanup served no legitimate military purpose,” LICADHO said.
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(eng/ita)
