Thai army clarifies Cambodian trench work in Si Sa Ket border area
The 2nd Army Area considers Cambodian trench-digging and barbed-wire installation near Chong Sa-ngam a defensive measure as the Suranaree Task Force monitors the area.
- The Thai army's clarification was prompted by a social media video showing Cambodian forces digging trenches near the Si Sa Ket border, which raised public concern about encroachment into Thai territory.
- The army identified the location as Hill 450 and assessed the Cambodian activity as a defensive security measure for self-protection along their own deployment line, not an act of aggression.
- While the work is not considered an encroachment, the Thai Suranaree Task Force continues to monitor movements in the area to prevent unnecessary tension.
The 2nd Army Area issued a news release on Monday (September 14, 2026), clarifying a video clip concerning the digging of trenches and placement of barbed wire along the border in the Chong Sa-ngam area of Si Sa Ket.
It said the clip circulating on social media contained information stating that the Cambodian side had dug communication trenches and laid barbed wire in the Chong Sa-ngam area of Phu Sing district, raising questions and concerns that the work might constitute an encroachment into Thai territory.
After checking the information with local units, the 2nd Army Area said the location shown in the clip was the Hill 450 area at Chong Kradon, near Thailand’s Phanom Beng operational base.
It said a Cambodian military base was located at the summit of Hill 450, close to the Thai operational line, and had been in use since the period of internal fighting in Cambodia in the past.
Before the ceasefire agreement dated Saturday (December 27, 2025), the Thai side, through a task force assigned to the area, had deployed personnel and established an operational base near the Cambodian base at Hill 450 to monitor and control its area of responsibility and prevent border encroachment.
Following the ceasefire agreement, the Thai side improved the access route to the base to make support operations more efficient and enhance the safety of personnel in the border area.
The 2nd Army Area said it continued to attach importance to complying with the ceasefire agreement while carefully safeguarding national sovereignty and interests.
In its assessment of the Cambodian side’s trench-digging and placement of barbed wire in the area, the 2nd Army Area considered the activity an additional defensive security measure intended for self-protection along the Cambodian deployment line.
However, the Suranaree Task Force has continued to monitor movements in the area, watching for unusual activity or warning signs that could lead to unnecessary tension.
The 2nd Army Area confirmed that all operations by the Thai side were being conducted in accordance with the Joint Statement dated Saturday (December 27, 2025), to protect national sovereignty and the safety of people living along the border.
It also requested public cooperation in following official information and exercising judgement when viewing information or clips circulated on social media, so that unverified material would not cause confusion or anxiety and affect efforts to maintain order in the border area.
