Thai authorities have raised serious concerns that the deployment of more than two hundred and fifty drones by Cambodian forces may jeopardise a recently concluded ceasefire between the two Southeast Asian neighbours following weeks of intense border fighting.

Thailand’s military said the unmanned aerial vehicles were detected crossing into Thai territory on the night of December twenty-eighth, just after Bangkok and Phnom Penh agreed to halt hostilities in an effort to stem a conflict that has killed scores of soldiers and civilians and displaced vast numbers of people from both sides of the disputed frontier.

The Thai army described the drone flights as provocations and warned that repeated violations could compel Bangkok to revisit key elements of the truce, including the planned release of Cambodian prisoners of war.

Cambodian officials, while acknowledging that drones had been seen along the contested boundary, characterised the situation as a ‘‘minor’’ matter involving aerial movements observed by both countries and said the two sides had agreed to investigate and resolve the issue promptly.

Phnom Penh’s defence ministry also issued a statement denying that Cambodian authorities had authorised any launches, asserting that local regulations and provincial directives had banned such operations.

The exchange highlights the fragility of the ceasefire signed on December twenty-seventh, which followed three weeks of combat involving artillery, tanks, drones and airstrikes along the roughly eight-hundred-kilometre border and prompted a significant humanitarian crisis.

The ceasefire, which was intended to freeze troop movements, end military engagements and create conditions for the safe return of displaced civilians, has been backed by regional dialogue and international diplomatic efforts.

Both capitals have underscored their commitment to sustaining peace through ongoing negotiations and confidence-building measures.

Thai foreign policy officials have reiterated Bangkok’s determination to uphold its territorial integrity and the terms of the ceasefire, while calling for clarity and cooperation from Phnom Penh to prevent further escalation.

As observers monitor developments, the drone allegations emphasise the challenges involved in translating a formal cessation of hostilities into lasting stability on the ground.