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Last Updated: July 24, 2025, 20:45 IST

Thailand and Cambodia are engaged in an armed clash amid an intensifying dispute over a long-contested stretch of their shared border. The latest violence erupted on Thursday morning near two ancient temples along the frontier between Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey. Cambodia has now asked for UN intervention in the matter and called Thailand a “war-hungry” nation.

According to the Thai army, the fighting began at around 7:35 am when troops guarding the Ta Muen temple detected a Cambodian drone in the area. Shortly after, six armed Cambodian soldiers, one reportedly carrying a rocket-propelled grenade, approached a barbed-wire fence near a Thai military post. The Thai army claims Cambodian troops initiated the firefight, which escalated quickly.

The Thai side further accused Cambodia of a “targeted attack on civilians,” saying two BM-21 rockets struck a local community in Surin’s Kap Choeng district, injuring three civilians.

Cambodia, however, blamed Thailand for starting the clash. “The Thai military violated the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia by launching an armed assault on Cambodian forces stationed to defend the nation’s sovereign territory,” said defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata. She added that Cambodian forces responded in self-defence, in line with international law, to repel the Thai incursion and protect the country’s sovereignty.

The skirmish marks the latest flare-up in a decades-long dispute over the Emerald Triangle, a geopolitically sensitive region where the borders of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos converge. The area is home to several ancient temples and has been the site of repeated clashes, most notably over 15 years ago and again in May this year, when a Cambodian soldier was killed.

Summary Thailand says F-16 deployed for precision strike on target

Cambodia condemns Thai ‘aggression’, calls for UN meeting

US calls for immediate end to hostilities

Clash follows downgrade in diplomatic ties over landmines

At least 11 civilians, 1 soldier killed in Thailand

BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Reuters) – Thailand scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia on Thursday after artillery volleys from both sides killed at least 11 civilians, as border tension boiled over into rare armed conflict between the Southeast Asian countries.

Both blamed each other for starting a morning clash at a disputed area of the border, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations 209 kilometres (130 miles) apart along a frontier where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century

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Thailand positioned six F-16 fighter jets in an uncommon combat deployment, one of which was mobilised to strike a Cambodian military target, among measures Cambodia’s foreign ministry called “reckless and brutal military aggression”.

Thailand’s military said the use of air power was to strike with precision.

The worst fighting between the countries in 13 years came after Thailand on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia’s envoy, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops, an accusation Cambodia called baseless.

The United States, a long-time treaty ally of Thailand, called for an immediate end to hostilities.

“We are … gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand Cambodia border, and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians,” the State Department’s deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, told a regular news briefing.

“The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” he said.

The two countries have been braced for conflict since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish, with troops reinforced on both sides of the border amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand’s fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse

Thailand said there were 12 fatalities in three Thai provinces, 11 of them civilians, including an eight-year-old boy. Authorities said 31 people were hurt on Thursday. The number of Cambodian casualties was unclear.

“We condemn this – using heavy weapons without a clear target, outside of conflict zones… the use of force and did not adhere to international law,” Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters.

“We remain committed to peaceful means and there should be discussions, but what happened was a provocation and we had to defend ourselves.”

‘PREMEDITATED MILITARY AGGRESSION’

Thailand’s Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin told reporters a hospital was hit by shelling in Surin province, an attack he said should be considered “a war crime”.

Item 1 of 6 Firefighters work to extinguish fire at a convenience store at a gas station, amid the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, Thailand, July 24, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video. TPBS/Handout via REUTERS [1/6] Firefighters work to extinguish fire at a convenience store at a gas station, amid the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, Thailand, July 24, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video. TPBS/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Cambodian government, defence and foreign ministry officials gave no indication of fatalities sustained or any estimate of the number of people evacuated.

In a letter to Pakistan, current president of the United Nations Security Council, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet, urged the body to convene a meeting to stop what he called “unprovoked and premeditated military aggression” by Thailand in violation of international law.

As clashes spread to different border areas, Thai villagers including children and elderly people fled to concrete shelters fortified with sandbags and car tires.

“How many rounds have been fired? It’s countless,” an unidentified woman in Surin province told the Thai Public Broadcasting Service while hiding in the shelter as gunfire and explosions were heard in the background.

This map shows the locations where military clashes have occurred along the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia.

Video footage showed a plume of thick black smoke rising from a gas station in neighbouring Sisaket province, as firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze.

Thailand has evacuated over 40,000 people from border areas, moving many to temporary shelters, where elderly people and small children gathered on floor mats as authorities prepared meals and unloaded food and bottled water from trucks.

“I’m worried about my children,” said Suphap Wongwai, an evacuee in Surin province. “My children are scared and crying.”

DECADES OF DISPUTES

Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over jurisdiction of various undemarcated points along their 817 km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes.

Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962 but tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths.

Cambodia in June said it had asked the ICJ to resolve its disputes with Thailand, which says it has never recognised the court’s jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach.

Thailand’s use of a fighter jet underlines its military advantage over Cambodia in terms of size and range of defence hardware.

The clashes have caused jitters in the region, with the Philippines and Vietnam calling for restraint and China expressing willingness to help promote de-escalation.

Reporting by Napat Wesshasartar, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um and Pasit Kongkunakornkul in Bangkok, Chantha Lach in Phnom Penh, Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Mikhail Flores in Manila and Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur; additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Nichole Johnson and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal, Saad Sayeed and Martin Petty; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Ed Osmond and Cynthia Osterman

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Sudden violence erupted on July 24th between Thailand and Cambodia, with artillery shelling and airstrikes, resulting in Thai civilian casualties and evacuations.

www.economist.com

Recent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated tensions in Southeast Asia, shocking many observers. On July 24, 2025, heavy artillery fire and airstrikes marked a significant shift in their long-standing disputes, which had largely avoided such violence.

6 Key Takeaways Sudden violence escalates border disputes.

Cambodian artillery targets Thai military base.

Thai F-16 jets conduct operations in Cambodia.

At least 11 Thai civilians reported dead.

40,000 people ordered to evacuate border areas.

No official reports on Cambodian casualties.

Thai authorities reported that at least 11 civilians lost their lives due to Cambodian artillery shelling a Thai military base. In response, Thai F-16 fighter jets conducted sorties into Cambodian territory, prompting the evacuation of 40,000 residents from border areas. The situation remains fluid, and there are no confirmed reports of casualties in Cambodia yet.

Fast Answer: Thailand and Cambodia’s border conflict escalated with artillery strikes and air raids, resulting in civilian casualties and mass evacuations, raising concerns about regional stability.

This sudden outbreak of violence raises critical questions about the future of peace in the region. How will both nations respond to this escalation? Will international actors intervene to mediate the conflict? Consider these points:

Both nations have historically avoided heavy military engagement.

Casualties could provoke public outcry and political pressure.

Regional stability is at risk if tensions continue to rise.

The ongoing conflict poses a significant risk to regional stability, with potential implications for international relations in Southeast Asia.

As the situation develops, it is essential for both governments to seek diplomatic solutions to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of their citizens.

In recent hours, F-16 Fighting Falcon jets from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) were deployed in the latest attacks against Cambodia, targeting military positions. The strikes followed an intense border clash that left at least ten dead and more than 30 wounded. This marks the most serious incident between the two nations in over a decade and the first time Thailand has employed fighter jets in a precision strike—signaling a significant escalation in hostilities.

According to information released so far, the deployment involved six F-16s, one of which reportedly carried out the attack around midday today, striking Cambodian military positions in the Ta Moan Thom area, near the disputed 817-kilometer border between the two countries. Bangkok characterized the action as a “precision strike,” marking the first use of air power in the ongoing clashes—a turning point in the scale of the conflict.

The Royal Thai Air Force operates a sizable and diverse fleet, focused on maintaining air superiority in regional scenarios. It currently fields around 47 F-16A/B Fighting Falcons, some of which have undergone modernization, forming the core of its combat power. These are complemented by older F-5 fighters and more modern Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D jets acquired in the last decade, which are integrated into a broader air defense network that includes Saab 340 AEW&C early warning and control aircraft equipped with Erieye radar systems.

#Cambodia | #Thailand

Footage from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) showing ground crews arming F-16s with Mk 82 (500 lb) bombs that are equipped with Lizard III guidance kits.

These F-16s were part of the flights that ran multiple airstrikes against the RCA. pic.twitter.com/c56WiA8Y1i — T-55AM1 (@T_55AM1_) July 24, 2025

Recent images and footage circulating through open-source intelligence platforms suggest that the F-16s involved were armed with 500-lb Mark 82 bombs fitted with Lizard III guidance kits. Analysts noted that this operation showcased Thailand’s capability—and willingness—to quickly project air power in hostile areas during times of regional tension. In contrast, Cambodia condemned the strikes as a “premeditated military aggression” and has appealed to the UN Security Council for intervention.

While both governments accuse each other of initiating the hostilities, the violence erupted after weeks of tension, fueled by the placement of landmines and the progressive deterioration of diplomatic relations. Armed clashes escalated rapidly, evolving from small arms fire to heavy artillery exchanges across at least six contested points along a 200-kilometer stretch of the border—territory that has remained disputed for decades.

Interim Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that his government would act in accordance with international law. However, local sources reported that the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra—following the leak of a phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen—has triggered a political storm that is further complicating crisis management. Hun Sen, for his part, claimed in a Facebook post that the Cambodian provinces of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear were also bombed by Thai forces.

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SINGAPORE — Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodia on Thursday following a new border clash, in a sharp escalation of a dispute that is racking up fatalities, according to military officials. Fighting between the two countries has occurred intermittently for decades, but tensions began to climb last month after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish. Cross-border fire on Thursday killed at least nine civilians, according to authorities, making it the deadliest clash between the two nations in more than a decade.

Thailand and Cambodia share a 508-mile border, which includes several tracts of disputed territory. Thai soldiers patrolling a disputed border region have been maimed by land mines, most recently on Wednesday, prompting Thailand to recall its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expel the Cambodian envoy from Bangkok.

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The following morning, the two militaries exchanged shots across the border near the sites of several ancient temples, including the Preah Vihear Temple, which has been designated by the United Nations as a world heritage site. Among the nine civilians killed was an 8-year-old boy, with 14 others injured, the Royal Thai Army said in a statement. A gas station, residences and other structures were also damaged.

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Thailand — a U.S. security treaty ally — then flew an F-16 fighter jet over Cambodia, dropping bombs on what it said were two military targets.

Cambodia confirmed the airstrikes, saying munitions had been dropped on a road leading to a pagoda. Authorities were still verifying whether there had been any civilian casualties from the day.

Each military has blamed the other for opening fire first on Thursday morning.

Chhum Socheat, spokesperson for Cambodia’s Defense Ministry, said Cambodian soldiers had approached Thai soldiers who were laying barbed wire around a temple in disputed territory. “The Thai soldiers fired first, and then we fought back for defense,” he said in a phone interview. “We exercised our right to self-defense.”

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In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Thailand launched “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate” attacks on Cambodian positions. The clashes, he added, stemmed from Thailand’s claims of sovereignty over border areas.

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Thai officials dispute that. The military said Cambodian personnel began shooting first, attacking Thai troops with rocket-propelled grenades and firing heavy artillery at a Thai military base. “Such actions fundamentally contradict the principles of good neighborly relations and good faith and will further undermine Cambodia’s reputation and credibility on the global stage,” the Thai Foreign Ministry said.

In 2011, similar clashes between the two nations killed 20 people and drove thousands on both sides of the border from their homes.

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The recent violence has led to swelling hostility between the two populations.

After Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was caught on a phone call appearing deferential to Cambodian leaders over the dispute, Thai legislators and members of the public responded with outrage, prompting calls for her to resign. She was suspended from official duties this month as Thailand’s Constitutional Court evaluates her removal.