Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has accused Thai forces of opening fire first in a border confrontation, as both sides trade blame over the fighting.
In a Facebook statement, Hun Manet asserted Cambodia’s right to defend itself. The government says it remains committed to a peaceful resolution under principles agreed through peace efforts supported by the United States.
Phnom Penh has also maintained that Cambodia has not lost any territory to Thailand.
The dispute comes as Cambodia faces international scrutiny over online scam operations and questions about whether its crackdown is reaching those who run them.
During a meeting with Hun Manet in July, FBI director Kash Patel identified online fraud as a priority. Kash Patel urged stronger action against criminal leaders and the sharing of information about officials involved in the networks.
The article cites a United States estimate that such fraud cost Americans nearly $18 billion in 2025.
In September, Cambodia hosted representatives from 20 countries, including the United States and China, alongside international organisations, to discuss cooperation against online crime.
Authorities presented their enforcement efforts and said the gathering aimed to improve information sharing and joint action.
Channel News Asia reported on September 22, 2026, that Cambodian officials showed foreign visitors buildings used by suspected scam operators, equipment and other evidence, including counterfeit $100 notes.
But some specialists questioned whether the displays demonstrated meaningful progress against the criminal networks.
Organised crime researcher Lindsey Kennedy said taking visitors through scam compounds and presenting arrest figures, seized equipment and cash did not amount to a thorough investigation.
Lindsey Kennedy said authorities had failed to adequately question people working at individual sites or investigate the counterfeit currency.
Lindsey Kennedy also criticised the deportation of victims and questioned the authorities’ willingness to gather evidence that could dismantle the networks or prevent their operators from relocating abroad.
Inside the compounds, slogans on the walls urged workers to push themselves and promised wealth overnight.
Some rooms had been fitted out as mock police stations, displaying Singapore police insignia. The article says these were used to intimidate workers.
The criticism highlights a central question facing Cambodia’s crackdown: whether raids and arrests are leading to investigations that hold the organisers accountable.