Rising tensions spark deadly border conflict
On 24 July, violence erupted near the Ta Muen Thom temple due to tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.
A landmine incident on disputed territory quickly escalated into crossfire, airstrikes, and civilian deaths.
The diplomatic envoys of both countries were expelled, and diplomatic relations were suspended as the military operations intensified.
With rockets exploding in the area, thousands were evacuated.
This recent outbreak has once again fueled fears of an extended conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbours with a long history of contested borders.
Clashes erupt near Ta Muen Thom temple amid Thailand–Cambodia tensions.
What triggered the new wave of violence?
Recent confrontations had been igniting in the areas of the Ta Muen Thom temple within Surin province. Landmines had injured five Thai soldiers while they were patrolling near the ancient Khmer ruins.
Officials were told to blame the Cambodians for the placement of the landmine, citing recent Vietnamese troop activity in the area. Cambodians denied the allegations and claimed that the old unexploded ordnance might have caused the injury.
Both sides had accused the opposite of provocation. Fighting had gone along several kilometres of the disputed border by the next morning.
Thailand launches airstrikes in retaliation
Seeing an opportunity, Thailand utilised its F-16 jets to bomb several targets inside Cambodian territory. Six jets had struck targets near the Chong An Ma area of Ubon Ratchathani province.
Thailand alleged that several Cambodian military installations were used as bases to launch rocket attacks upon Thai soil. This airstrike severely escalated the Thai military response.
Furthermore, the Royal Thai Army closed the border entryways in the northeast. Thai nationals were advised to evacuate Cambodia forthwith for their safety.
Thai F-16 jets strike Cambodian targets near Chong An Ma.
Where did the civilian casualties occur?
The blasts shook the Thai civilian villages, spreading terror and causing havoc everywhere. A BM-21 rocket hit the petrol station of Sisaket province, killing nearly a dozen people, including a child.
Never mind continuous shelling; the hospitals in Phanom Dong Rak district had to evacuate patients. At least 12 persons died: 11 civilians and a soldier.
Dozens more were injured, some seriously. The government has begun the process of moving residents away from high-risk areas near the border.
BM-21 rocket strike on Sisaket petrol station kills civilians, including a child.
Cambodia expels Thai ambassador
In the wake of the violence, the diplomatic relations of the two countries encountered a fresh low. Thailand withdrew its ambassador from Phnom Penh and recalled all consular staff.
Cambodia expelled the Thai ambassador and suspended all diplomatic channels. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned the airstrikes as acts of aggression.
Thai officials referred to the Cambodian shelling as indiscriminate and against civilian targets. Full-scale armed confrontation stands in front of both nations if not averted.
Cambodian PM Hun Manet denounces Thai airstrikes as acts of aggression.
How is the global community responding?
The international community reacted swiftly to the rise in tensions in Southeast Asia. Malaysia’s PM, Anwar Ibrahim, asked both sides to exercise restraint. He urged to return to dialogue and cooperation to avoid more bloodshed.
Cambodia sought an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the crisis. Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire and investigation. Regional partners like Indonesia and Vietnam offered to mediate peace talks.
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Is history repeating along the Thai-Cambodian frontier?
The current conflict serves as a bitter reminder of unresolved territorial issues dating back to colonial-era border demarcation. Between Thailand and Cambodia, tensions have been simmering since the 1960s.
In 2011, battles erupted in the vicinity of Preah Vihear temple, resulting in 28 deaths on both sides. Sovereignty claims, despite the ICJ ruling, remain in dispute.
Much of the contentious claims rest on Prasat Ta Muen Thom and its environs due to their strategic value. The recent escalation is testament to how volatile these ancient claims still are today.
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The Thailand-Cambodia war threatens wider regional fallout
The Thailand and Cambodia war escalated in 2025, with fatal military action along their disputed frontier. What started as a patrol incident soon gave way to aerial bombings, artillery fire, and civilian casualties.
On one front, Thailand initiated airstrikes, while the Cambodian side retaliated by shelling the border. Deaths now number at least 12, with dozens wounded and communities displaced.
The diplomatic relations are breaking down: ambassadors are being recalled, and relations have been frozen. The international community has called for an immediate de-escalation before the regional crisis becomes more widespread.
The ancient border dispute has resurged in the modern age been resurged into. The current Thailand-Cambodia crisis is a testament to a fragile balance that exists between pride and peaceful coexistence.
Unless diplomacy is carried through, Southeast Asia might be at another chapter of a lengthy bout of military instability.
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