Thousands Flee Deadly Fighting Between Cambodia and Thailand – The New York Times
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Cambodian Evacuees Sheltering In Temple Pray For End To Thai Clashes
Hundreds of Cambodians flee deadly clashes with Thailand. Most take refuge in the grounds of a Buddhist pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province. Thailand says more than 138,000 people have been evacuated from its border regions. 15 people killed and five more wounded in clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops, jets, artillery, tanks, ground troops and air strikes, authorities say. Thailand has said it is willing to start talks but also warned that the conflict could develop into a full-blown war if Cambodia is not willing to de-escalate.
The deadliest fighting in over a decade between the two neighbours has sent thousands of villagers fleeing the border zone in Cambodia.
As artillery clashes erupted Thursday, Salou Chan, 36, grabbed some belongings, clothes, his two kids, and sped away from his home, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from disputed temples on the frontline.
“I fear for the safety of my children, they are still small. For me, I could have stayed at home, but I worried for my children — they were scared of the sound of gunfire,” he told AFP.
“I don’t know when I will be able to return home but I want them to stop fighting soon. Nobody’s looking after my rice paddy and livestock.”
He and his family have joined hundreds of others in the grounds of the temple in Oddar Meanchey province.
With no proper shelter, most sit on the bare ground and rig up makeshift tents with plastic sheeting.
The evacuees have only the food and water they brought with them to sustain them while they wait for the chance to go home.
A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting on Thursday with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops doing battle, and more exchanges on Friday.
Thailand says more than 138,000 people have been evacuated from its border regions, and 15 people killed.
Cambodia has been more tight-lipped about casualties, though Oddar Meanchey provincial authorities reported one civilian — a 70-year-old man — had been killed and five more wounded.
Chhorn Khik, 55, who fled to the pagoda with her two grandchildren, said she was relieved to have escaped the conflict zone.
“I am no longer scared. Yesterday I was so scared, I was crying along the way,” she told AFP.
“I feel pity for the soldiers at the frontline. We are scared, but we could escape, but those soldiers, they are fighting for us and the nation.”
Thailand has said it is willing to start talks but also warned that the conflict could develop into a full-blown war if Cambodia is not willing to de-escalate.
Yoeun Rai, 55, who fled with 10 of her family, said she was so anxious she could not eat.
“I am praying this will end soon so that we can go back home,” she told AFP.
60,000 flee as deadly Thailand-Cambodia border clashes enter day 2
At least 14 people were killed in Thailand, including one soldier and 13 civilians, while Cambodia reported its first confirmed fatality Friday. Malaysia – chair of the regional bloc ASEAN – called for an immediate cease-fire and offered to mediate. The Thai army accused Cambodian forces of using heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what officials described as “appropriate supporting fire” in response. The last major flare-up in 2011 left 20 people dead when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a land mine explosion near a disputed border area, triggering retaliatory strikes by Thai forces. The conflict marks a rare armed confrontation between two Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, which have previously clashed with Cambodia over border issues and sporadic skirmishes with Myanmar. The U.N. Security Council was set to hold an emergency meeting later Friday in New York, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, which has called for restraint and dialogue.
The U.N. Security Council was set to hold an emergency meeting later Friday in New York. Malaysia – chair of the regional bloc ASEAN – called for an immediate cease-fire and offered to mediate.
Thailand’s Health Ministry reported that more than 58,000 people had taken shelter in temporary camps across four border provinces. Cambodian officials said over 4,000 people had evacuated from nearby villages.
At least 14 people were killed in Thailand, including one soldier and 13 civilians, while Cambodia reported its first confirmed fatality Friday. Thai officials said 15 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded.
Tensions flared after a land mine explosion Wednesday wounded five Thai soldiers near a disputed border area, triggering retaliatory strikes.
The Thai military reported clashes early Friday in several areas, including Chong Bok and Phu Makhuea in Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province, Phanom Dong Rak in Surin province, and near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple. Associated Press reporters near the border heard artillery fire beginning in the early morning hours.
The Thai army accused Cambodian forces of using heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what officials described as “appropriate supporting fire” in response.
A Thai military mobile unit fires toward Cambodia’s side after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, Surin, Thailand, July 25, 2025. (Reuters Photo)
Cambodian authorities said a man died Thursday when a Thai rocket struck a Buddhist pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province, where he had been sheltering. Gen. Khov Ly, Cambodia’s chief official in the province, said at least four civilians were wounded in that attack.
Thailand’s military denied targeting civilian sites and accused Cambodia of using civilians as “human shields” by placing weapons near residential areas.
As fighting intensified, residents on both sides of the border fled.
In Surin province, about 600 people took shelter in a university gymnasium roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the border. Evacuees sat in groups on mats and blankets, queued for food and water, and tried to remain calm.
Pornpan Sooksai, a seamstress, brought four cats in fabric cages. “I just heard, boom, boom,” she said. “We had already prepared the cages, clothes and everything, so we ran and carried our things to the car. I was frightened, scared.”
Another evacuee, Rattana Meeying, said she had also lived through the 2011 clashes between the two countries but called this episode more intense.
“Children, old people – they were hit out of the blue,” she said. “I never imagined it would be this violent.”
At nearby Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, explosions were audible Friday, and a military truck arrived carrying three wounded Thai soldiers, including one who had lost both legs. Thursday’s shelling shattered hospital windows and damaged a roof.
In neighboring Sisaket province, a steady stream of vehicles left as residents evacuated. Meanwhile, across the border in Cambodia, villages near Oddar Meanchey province were nearly deserted. Homes were locked; chickens and dogs roamed the streets.
Some residents had dug makeshift underground bunkers, using wood, tarpaulin and zinc sheets for cover. Families with children were seen packing belongings onto homemade tractors. Several hundred Cambodians took refuge at a remote Buddhist temple surrounded by rice fields, setting up plastic tents under trees while children played nearby.
“I beg both governments to negotiate so I can return to my home and work on my farm,” said Veng Chin, 74.
The conflict marks a rare armed confrontation between two Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members. Thailand has previously clashed with Cambodia over border issues and has had sporadic skirmishes with Myanmar.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday he spoke separately with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, urging “peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution.” Malaysia offered to help mediate.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for restraint and encouraged dialogue, according to spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia are not new. Their 500-mile (800-kilometer) frontier has long been contested, with past confrontations typically short-lived. The last major flare-up in 2011 left 20 people dead.
The current tensions began in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation. Both sides agreed to de-escalate, but continued to trade threats and impose trade and travel restrictions.
The conflict escalated again Wednesday after a land mine wounded five Thai soldiers. Bangkok responded by withdrawing its ambassador, expelling Cambodia’s envoy, sealing land borders, and urging Thai nationals to leave Cambodia. Officials said all seven Thai airlines were ready to assist with evacuations.
In response, Cambodia downgraded diplomatic ties and recalled its embassy staff in Bangkok.
Clashes broke out Thursday, with both militaries accusing each other of using drones before escalating to rockets and artillery fire. Thailand said its air force conducted two F-16 bombing runs in retaliation.
Cambodia claimed the strikes hit near the Preah Vihear temple – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and flashpoint in past disputes – and released photos of the damage, vowing to pursue international legal action.
The border crisis has also roiled Thai domestic politics. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office on July 1 over an ethics probe related to a phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, still a powerful figure in Phnom Penh.
Thailand-Cambodia border: Thailand warns clashes could ‘move towards war’
Thailand and Cambodia could ‘move towards war’ as evacuations continue. At least 16 people have been confirmed killed in border clashes. Tens of thousands have been moved to evacuation centres on both sides. Cambodia has accused Thailand of using banned cluster munitions.
At least 16 people have been confirmed killed in border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, while tens of thousands have been moved to evacuation centres on both sides.
The conflict entered its second day on Friday, after tensions erupted into a deadly battle at the border on Thursday morning – the latest flashpoint in a long-running dispute that dates back more than a century.
Thailand’s acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Friday warned that the conflict “could escalate into a state of war” – notable escalation of his rhetoric from Thursday, when he described the situation as a “clash”.
The confrontation now involves heavy weapons, he added. Cambodia has meanwhile accused Thailand of using banned cluster munitions at a border area within Cambodian territory.
We’re winding down our live coverage for today, but if you want to know more about why Thailand and Cambodia are fighting you can read our explainer here. There is also this analysis on why the root of this conflict is the breakdown of an old friendship.
Our latest news piece on the conflict is here.
Why Thailand and Cambodia are fighting over an ancient temple—and what China has to do with it
A deadly border confrontation between Cambodia and Thailand resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and displaced thousands. Months of mounting tension came to a head near the disputed ancient temple of Prasat Ta Muen Thom on the disputed border. The roots of this war go back more than a century, to a French colonial map drawn in 1907 that the two countries have contradictory understandings of. The disputed border disputes, national pride, and unexecuted court rulings have kept the war simmering. China’s foreign minister recently met with Cambodian officials and vowed to play a “constructive role” in brokering a resolution to the standoff. The combat is now drawing in regional powers—and exposing Southeast Asia’s diplomatic fault lines.
A deadly border confrontation between Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and displaced thousands, the most severe fighting in over a decade along the border between the two nations. Months of mounting tension came to a head near the disputed ancient temple of Prasat Ta Muen Thom on the disputed border. The combat is now drawing in regional powers—and exposing Southeast Asia’s diplomatic fault lines, the New York Times reported.
What prompted the border violence on Thursday?
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Each blamed the other for initiating fire. Thailand accused Cambodia of firing rockets into four Thai provinces, prompting retaliatory air strikes. Cambodia accused Thai troops of firing first in the vicinity of the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple and Cambodian troops firing back 15 minutes later. The result: at least 11 Thai civilians and one Thai soldier killed, dozens wounded, and thousands forced to flee. Cambodia has not yet confirmed its own list of casualties.
Why was Thailand’s prime minister suspended on this?
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended by the court on July 1 following an outburst of anger over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen, who is closely associated with her family’s politics. In the call, Paetongtarn came across as being too obsequious and denigrating of her own armed forces, and the streets of Bangkok erupted in mass protests. Following her apology, public indignation led to her temporary dismissal a few months into office.
What is Prasat Ta Muen Thom and why does it make a difference?
Prasat Ta Muen Thom is a temple long claimed by both nations, centuries ago, in Thailand’s Surin province on the border with Cambodia. It was part of the ancient Khmer Empire, and the cultural heritage of the region intersects with that of Cambodia, where Khmer is the national language. Disputes over temples like this one—and neighbouring Preah Vihear—have been the cause of ongoing confrontations over the years. Although the International Court of Justice granted Cambodia ownership of Preah Vihear in 1962, bordering land remains contentious.
Where does China fit into all of this?
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China is Thailand’s and Cambodia’s largest trade partner, and has made the most investment in infrastructure in both countries. It is building a rail link in Thailand and an airport and highway in Cambodia. While with American influence on the decline—partly from threatened tariffs on both countries’ imports—Beijing has served as a key facilitator. China’s foreign minister recently met with Cambodian officials and vowed to play a “constructive role” in brokering a resolution to the standoff.
How old is the Thailand-Cambodia conflict?
The roots of this war go back more than a century, to a French colonial map drawn in 1907 that the two countries have contradictory understandings of. While periodic outbursts have occurred ever since, deadly serious conflict last erupted in 2011. The disputed border disputes, national pride, and unexecuted court rulings have kept the war simmering, and Thursday’s violence shows how it can flare up again at a moments’ notice—with local powers like China now entering the middle.
Thousands flee as fighting between Thailand and Cambodia continues
The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later on Friday in New York. Malaysia, which chairs a regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate. 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. The fighting has killed at least 14 people in Thailand, while Cambodia confirmed its first fatality on Friday. The Thai army said Cambodian forces had used heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what Thai officials described as “appropriate supporting fire” in return.
The 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.
The fighting has killed at least 14 people in Thailand, while Cambodia confirmed its first fatality on Friday.
A woman fleeing the fighting holds her cat as she shelters at an evacuation centre in Surin province, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
Tensions over a disputed border area erupted into fighting after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers on Wednesday.
The Thai military reported clashes early on Friday in multiple areas, including along the border at Chong Bok and Phu Makhuea in Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province; at Phanom Dong Rak in Surin province; and near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple.
Associated Press reporters near the border could hear the sounds of artillery from early morning hours.
The Thai army said Cambodian forces had used heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what Thai officials described as “appropriate supporting fire” in return.
Thailand said one soldier and 13 civilians were killed, including children, while 15 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded.
Cambodia’s chief official in Oddar Meanchey province, General Khov Ly, said a man died instantly on Thursday after a Thai rocket hit a Buddhist pagoda where he was hiding.
At least four civilians were also wounded in Thursday’s fighting there.
As the fighting intensified, villagers on both sides have been caught in the crossfire, leading many to flee.
About 600 people took shelter at a gymnasium in a university in Surin, Thailand, about 50 miles from the border. Evacuees sat in groups, on mats and blankets, and queued for food and drinks.
Across the border in Cambodia, villages on the outskirts of Oddar Meanchey province were largely deserted. Homes stood locked, while chickens and dogs roamed outside.
Some villagers earlier dug holes to create makeshift underground bunkers, covering them with wood, tarpaulin and zinc sheets to shield themselves from shelling. Families with children were seen packing their belongings on home-made tractors to evacuate, though a few men refused to leave.