Thailand and Cambodia traded accusations of targeting civilians in artillery and rocket attacks, as United States President Donald Trump said he would try to intervene to stop the fighting and salvage a ceasefire he brokered earlier this year.
Clashes raged at more than a dozen locations along their 817km border in some of the most intense fighting since a five-day battle in July, which Trump stopped with calls to both leaders to halt their worst conflict in recent history.
The Southeast Asian neighbours have blamed each other for the clashes that started on Monday.
Trump, at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this week, said he would try to stop the renewed hostilities. On Wednesday, he told reporters he expected to speak with the countries' leaders on Thursday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for additional information about the calls.
"I think I can get them to stop fighting," Trump said.
"I think I'm scheduled to speak to them tomorrow."
Thailand's army has made clear it wants to cripple Cambodia's military capabilities, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said operations would not stop.
He declined to comment on the military's endgame. Asked about Trump's remarks, he said the conflict was a matter between the two countries involved.
"Other national leaders may have good intentions in wanting peace," Anutin told reporters.
"It cannot be as simple as picking up the phone and calling. There must be proper appointment and agreed talking points. We still have time to prepare these issues if such discussions are to take place."
Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona said Cambodia's position was that it wanted only peace and had acted in self-defence. A top adviser to Cambodia's prime minister has signalled the country was ready to negotiate.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who helped Trump broker the ceasefire, said he had spoken with leaders of Thailand and Cambodia on Tuesday and, though no definitive resolution was reached, he appreciated "the openness and willingness of both leaders to continue negotiations in order to ease tensions".
The three days of clashes have taken a heavy toll on civilians, with nine people killed in Cambodia, including an infant, and 46 people wounded, according to its government. Five Thai soldiers had been killed in the fighting, and 68 people were wounded, according to the Thai army.
On Wednesday, Cambodia withdrew its athletes from the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, citing safety reasons and their families' concerns.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from border areas, though some people have chosen not to leave.
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