Thailand and Cambodia are engaged in deadly border clashes, displacing over 100,000 people, with both sides blaming each other for the violence.

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Recent clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated tensions, with both nations blaming each other for a violent border conflict. As of July 25, 2025, over 100,000 people have been displaced, raising fears of a potential war.

6 Key Takeaways Thailand and Cambodia blame each other for conflict

Over 100,000 people displaced by violence

Thailand declares martial law near border

UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting

Airstrikes and artillery used in clashes

Relations at lowest point in a decade

Thailand’s acting prime minister warned that the situation could deteriorate further, while Cambodian authorities reported casualties on both sides. The ongoing violence has already claimed at least 19 lives in Thailand, with the first confirmed death in Cambodia occurring recently.

Fast Answer: The escalating border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia could have significant implications for regional stability and international relations.

This alarming situation raises critical questions about the future of diplomatic relations in Southeast Asia. How will both governments respond to the growing humanitarian crisis? And what role will international organizations play in mediating this conflict? Consider these points:

Over 58,000 people have fled to temporary shelters in Thailand.

Martial law has been declared in several districts bordering Cambodia.

The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting.

The ongoing conflict poses a serious risk to regional security and humanitarian efforts, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic intervention.

As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for the international community to monitor developments closely and advocate for peaceful resolutions to prevent further escalation.

07/25/2025 July 25, 2025 Tens of thousands seek refuge

Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge as the border fighting continues amid fears of an extended conflict.

The Thai Health Ministry on Friday said more than 58,000 have fled from villages to temporary shelters.

Cambodian authorities said more than 23,000 people have evacuated from the border region.

The violence in a long-running border dispute has so far killed at least 19 people in Thailand, mostly civilians.

Cambodia confirmed its first death on Friday.

In this photo released by the Royal Thai Army, Thai soldiers inspect a border area on Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Ubon Ratchathani province, where the Royal Thai Army said two anti-personnel landmines were found. (AP)

Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash 2025 Live Updates: Thailand has declared a state of emergency in 8 border provinces amid intensifying clashes with Cambodia, news agency AFP reported. Citizens are advised to avoid travel, stay alert, and follow official safety instructions as conflict escalates. Earlier, in the day, Thailand rejected mediation efforts from third countries to end the ongoing conflict with Cambodia. It insisted that Phnom Penh cease attacks and resolve the situation only through bilateral talks, Reuters reported, quoting the foreign ministry. Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej said that the United States, China and Malaysia, which is the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, have offered to facilitate dialogue, but Bangkok is seeking a bilateral solution to the conflict.

What’s the current situation? Clashes broke out between the two countries early on Thursday along a disputed area abutting an ancient temple, rapidly spilling over to other areas along the contested frontier and heavy artillery exchanges continued for a second straight day. Both sides accuse each other of firing the first shots that started the conflict. The ongoing conflict has killed at least 11 people and injured several others, according to the state-run Thai Public Broadcasting Service. The escalation of military exchanges between Thailand and Cambodia could move towards war, Acting Thai PM Phumtham Wechayachai told to reporters.

Story continues below this ad Also read | Martial law, an ‘agreed’ ceasefire and heavy fire: Thailand-Cambodia clash escalates — what happened today? What’s the conflict about? An 11th-century Hindu temple called Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, has been at the heart of the dispute for decades, with both Bangkok and Phnom Penh claiming historical ownership. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962; however, Thailand has continued to lay claim to the surrounding land. Live Updates 01:18 (IST) 26 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Martial law, an ‘agreed’ ceasefire and heavy fire: Thailand-Cambodia clash escalates — what happened today? The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalated dramatically on Friday, with both sides trading heavy artillery and rocket fire in the deadliest confrontation in over a decade. At least 15 people have died — 14 in Thailand and one in Cambodia — while more than 120,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. -Read More 19:14 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: The phone call that became the political feud behind the fight Cambodia and Thailand, long-time neighbours with a history of border disputes, have found themselves in yet another spiral of violence—this time deadlier than most in recent memory. But what made this skirmish escalate so dramatically? Tensions sharply worsened last month when former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly leaked a phone call with Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In the call, Paetongtarn addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” and was heard criticising a Thai military commander. The leak caused a political storm in Thailand and led to Paetongtarn’s suspension. The country’s Constitutional Court is currently considering her removal from office. Why Hun Sen chose to leak the call—despite his family’s decades-long close ties with the Shinawatras—remains unclear. But the fallout has now spilled onto the battlefield, with diplomatic channels collapsing and violence surging along the border. Read more about the call HERE. 18:57 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: How Thailand-Cambodia diplomatic relations worsened recently? Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have sharply escalated in recent months, with a series of border clashes and diplomatic tit-for-tat moves straining relations. In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed during military skirmishes along the disputed frontier, triggering a wave of retaliatory measures. Both sides exchanged accusations, shut down border crossings, and imposed trade restrictions—Cambodia blocked imports of Thai fuel, gas, fruits, and vegetables. The situation worsened in mid-July when three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine blast during a border patrol. On Wednesday, another Thai soldier lost his right leg in a similar explosion. Thai authorities blamed Cambodia for the mines, while Phnom Penh denied responsibility, insisting that Thai troops had strayed off agreed paths and triggered dormant mines left over from past conflicts. In the aftermath of the latest incident, Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh and declared Cambodia’s envoy persona non grata. Cambodia retaliated by announcing the withdrawal of all its diplomats from Thailand and ordering Thai diplomats to leave the country. 18:49 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Thailand declares martial law in areas bordering Cambodia Thailand on Friday declared martial law in eight of its districts bordering Cambodia, as the countries traded strikes in a second deadly day of clashes. Apichart Sapprasert, commander of the military’s Border Defense Command for Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, announced that martial law has been imposed in seven districts of Chanthaburi and one district of Trat, according to AFP. 18:38 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Cambodia supported ASEAN-led ceasefire proposal that Thailand rejected after initial backing Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has said he supported a ceasefire proposal put forward by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, but claimed that Thailand withdrew its support after initially agreeing to the plan. In a Facebook post, Hun Manet called Thailand’s move “regrettable” and said, “The key to resolving the ongoing armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia lies in the Thai side’s genuine willingness to accept a ceasefire.” 17:41 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Cambodia accuses Thailand of ‘brutal territorial ambition’ Pen Bona, head of Cambodia’s government spokesperson unit, has accused Thailand of launching heavy attacks and targeting civilians amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours. “Cambodia is the victim of aggression by the Thai military, whose intention is to fulfil an expansionist ambition to seize Cambodian land,” he said during a news conference, as reported by Cambodian media. “Moreover, Thai armed forces have used heavy weapons, including dropping bombs on civilian targets, causing serious suffering in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces. This is a brutal territorial ambition that blatantly violates international law,” he added. Meanwhile, Thailand has levelled similar accusations, claiming Cambodian forces attacked civilian areas and caused casualties. Both countries continue to blame each other for sparking the latest round of violence. 15:35 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: What Malaysia said about mediation? Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), had earlier offered to facilitate talks between the two countries. “I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward,” Anwar wrote on Facebook late Thursday. 15:20 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Thailand ‘ready’ for talks, but adds ‘have not had any response’ Thailand’s foreign ministry has signalled it is open to diplomatic talks with Cambodia to end the current border clashes, a report by The Guardian said. “We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that…” foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told AFP. He added that there were signs the fighting was beginning to ease. Malaysia, who currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have previously called for a ceasefire. 14:13 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Thailand, Cambodia exchange heavy artillery as fighting expands for second day Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as their worst fighting in over a decade intensified and spread to new areas, despite international calls for a ceasefire. At least 16 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in the escalating border battle. Both sides have blamed each other for starting the conflict and on Friday ratcheted up the rhetoric, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of deliberately targeting civilians and Cambodia alleging Thailand was using cluster munitions, a controversial and widely condemned ordnance. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Cambodia had launched attacks on multiple fronts and Thailand was defending its territory. (Reuters) 12:50 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Thailand says clashes with Cambodia reported in 12 areas Clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have taken place in 12 locations along their disputed border, a Thai military official said on Friday, indicating a broadening of the conflict that erupted a day earlier. Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, a military spokesperson, told a press conference Cambodia had continued to use heavy weapons. The Thai military had on Thursday reported clashes in six locations. (Reuters) 12:34 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: ‘Avoid border provinces,’ says Indian embassy in Thailand, issues travel advisory The Indian High Commission in Thailand Friday issued an advisory for its nationals in the country, urging them to avoid travelling to seven provinces amid ongoing unrest along the Thailand-Cambodia border. “In view of the situation near the Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travellers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT Newsroom,” the Indian embassy said in an X post. Attaching a post by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, it said that the places mentioned “are not recommended” for travelling. The tourism authority said that “several attractions” in Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces are not recommended for visiting. In view of the situation near Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travelers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT Newsroom.

As per Tourism Authority of Thailand places mentioned in the following link are not recommended for… https://t.co/ToeHLSQUYi — India in Thailand (@IndiainThailand) July 25, 2025 12:19 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Thailand rejects mediation in Cambodia conflict, says open to bilateral talks Thailand has rejected mediation efforts from third countries to end the ongoing conflict with Cambodia, insisting that Phnom Penh cease attacks and resolve the situation only through bilateral talks, Reuters reported, quoting the foreign ministry. Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej said that the United States, China and Malaysia, which is the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, have offered to facilitate dialogue, but Bangkok is seeking a bilateral solution to the conflict “I don’t think we need any mediation from a third country yet,” Nikorndej said. 12:15 (IST) 25 Jul 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: Tens of thousands flee their homes as Thailand and Cambodia clash As many as tens of thousands of people sought refuge on Friday as border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered a second day, heightening fears of a broader conflict. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later Friday in New York, while Malaysia, which chairs a regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate. Meanwhile, the Thai Health Ministry on Friday said more than 58,000 have fled from villages to temporary shelters in four affected Thai border provinces, while Cambodian authorities said more than 4,000 people have evacuated from areas near the border. Tensions over a disputed border area erupted into fighting after a land mine explosion along the border on wounded five Thai soldiers on Wednesday.

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Escalation of military exchanges could lead to ‘state of war’, Thailand’s acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai says.

At least 14 people have been killed in Thailand and another in Cambodia in fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops, authorities say, as more than 130,000 people living along both sides of their border flee the ongoing violence.

Deadly fighting continued for a second day on Friday as both countries traded heavy artillery and rocket fire in the bloodiest military confrontation between the two Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade.

“The situation has intensified and could escalate into a state of war,” acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said he had backed a ceasefire proposal put forward by his Malaysian counterpart and chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Anwar Ibrahim, but added that Thailand withdrew its backing of the plan after initially agreeing to it.

In a Facebook post, Hun Manet described Thailand’s decision as “regrettable”.

“The key to resolving the current armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is the genuine willingness of the Thai side to accept a ceasefire,” Hun Manet said.

Thailand’s foreign ministry said later that it agreed in principle with the Malaysian proposal for a ceasefire and will consider the plan, but that it must be based on “appropriate on-the-ground conditions”.

“It must be stated that throughout the day, Cambodian forces have continued their indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory,” the ministry said in a post on X. “Cambodia’s actions demonstrate a lack of good faith and continue to place civilians in danger.”

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Speaking to Al Jazeera earlier on Friday, a spokesman for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikorndej Balankura, said while Thailand insists it has the tools to resolve the issue bilaterally, it has not ruled out future mediation by regional partners.

“Our doors have always been open to talks. … We are still waiting for positive reactions from the Cambodian side,” Nikorndej said.

On possible third-party mediation, he added: “It’s a bit too premature for me right now to say that we are ready for any mediation, … but if we are going to talk about anyone to step in and help, countries in ASEAN … would be best suited.”

A Thai military official said on Friday that attacks have been reported in 12 locations along the disputed border, up from six a day earlier, indicating a widening of the fighting.

Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, a military spokesperson, said during a news conference that Cambodia had continued to use heavy weapons.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported at least 13 civilians and one soldier were killed in Thailand when fighting broke out on Thursday.

A local official in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey border province told the Reuters news agency that one person was killed and five wounded in Thai attacks.

More than 120,000 displaced

Quoting officials in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, the Khmer Times newspaper said about 20,000 residents have evacuated from the country’s northern border with Thailand.

Meanwhile, more than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, the country’s health ministry said.

Thailand declared martial law on Friday in eight districts along the border, effective immediately.

The country has also opened more than 300 evacuation centres, according to officials.

Reporting earlier from Surin province near the Cambodian border, Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng said the government described the frontier as “very long and porous”, complicating efforts to track the movement of displaced people.

“It is very hard to see how many people are here in the evacuation centre … because there are people arriving all the time,” he said.

Thai authorities said they are meeting the immediate needs of those seeking refuge by providing food, water and medical care at the temporary shelters. However, local accounts painted a grim picture.

“Some of the older people that we have talked to said what they have seen in the last 48 hours – the fighting they’ve seen – has been the fiercest in this disputed area since the late 1970s when the Khmer Rouge had complete control of the other side of the border,” Cheng reported.

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The violence, centred around a contested section of the Thai-Cambodian border, has prompted calls for calm from regional actors. “People are trying to talk down both sides, urging leaders to de-escalate,” Cheng added.

UN to hold emergency meeting

Diplomatic sources told AFP that the United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the border fighting.

On Thursday, Thailand said it scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia, whose military said its forces launched long-range rockets towards civilian areas along the Thai border.

Both countries have blamed each other for starting the fighting.

The United States, a longtime treaty ally of Thailand, has called for an immediate end to the hostilities.

China, a close ally of Cambodia, said it was deeply concerned about the conflict and hoped both countries “will properly solve their dispute through dialogue and consultation”.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing is ready to play a constructive role in helping de-escalate tensions.

“The root cause of this issue lies in the lingering consequences left by Western colonialists in the past, and it now needs to be faced calmly and handled properly,” he said during a meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The territorial dispute between the two neighbours largely stems from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule, which was used to demarcate Cambodia’s boundary with Thailand.

Cambodia uses the map to support its claims while Thailand argues that the map is inaccurate.

25 July 2025 19:08

Thailand declared martial law in 8 districts along its border with Cambodia as the two nations continued to exchange heavy artillery fire on July 25.

This was announced by the Commander of the Thai military’s Border Defense Command in the provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat, Caliber.Az reports citing Thai news.

The military border commander informed the public that “martial law is now in effect” in seven districts of Chanthaburi and one district of Trat due to “Cambodia’s use of force” to enter Thai territory.

The development comes just hours after Thai officials said that the country favours bilateral negotiations rather than third-party mediation to resolve the border dispute with Cambodia, which has been escalating in the past days.

Thailand warned Cambodia that its conflict could “potentially develop into a war”, with acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai saying that Bangkok was committed to defending its territory and sovereignty.

According to Thailand’s health ministry, at least 15 people have lost their lives in one of the worst Thai-Cambodian clashes in more than a decade.

“We have tried to compromise as we are neighbours, but we have now instructed the Thai military to act immediately in case of urgency,” said Phumtham, who has been heading the government following the dramatic suspension of former PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra in July 2025 due to a scandal related to a leaked phone call with an influential Cambodian commander following a May 2025 military incident.

This latest conflict follows earlier clashes this year, including one that broke out between Thai and Cambodian forces, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier on May 28 related to the unresolved dispute over control of certain areas along the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos border.

By Nazrin Sadigova