Deadly clashes erupted along the Thailand-Cambodia border on Thursday, July 24. It comes after Thai forces accused Cambodian troops of deploying a drone and initiating an attack near the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple. Thailand said the confrontation began when Cambodian troops crossed into contested territory and opened fire on a Thai base, prompting a rapid military response.
The Thai army deployed F-16 jets, with one aircraft bombing what it said were Cambodian military positions. Thailand’s military said it targeted only military sites in response to Cambodia’s deployment of rocket launchers and heavy weapons in the area.
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A spokesperson for Cambodia’s defense ministry called the airstrikes unprovoked and condemned them as an act of aggression.
“Cambodian forces acted strictly within the bounds of self-defense, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity,” Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said.
How many people have been killed or injured?
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that at least 12 people died, including 11 civilians and one Thai soldier. Officials said the clashes injured dozens more, including children. One Cambodian rocket hit a gas station in Sisaket province, killing multiple people and injuring several others near a 7-Eleven store.
Thai officials also reported that shelling hit civilian areas in Surin province, including a hospital.
Thailand evacuated more than 40,000 residents from 86 villages across border provinces. Amid the chaos, fires broke out in multiple areas. Footage from the scene showed smoke billowing from destroyed buildings.
What are the political consequences of the fighting?
The clash followed weeks of political tension. Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh on Wednesday, July 23, and expelled Cambodia’s envoy after accusing Cambodia of laying new landmines along the border. Cambodia denied the allegation, saying any mines involved were remnants of earlier conflicts.
Earlier in July, officials suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a leaked phone call revealed her calling Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen “uncle” and referring to the Thai military as her “opponent.” Thai courts are reviewing whether the remarks undermined national sovereignty.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on Thursday and accused Thailand of violating Cambodia’s sovereignty. In response, Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai emphasized that the military actions were defensive and that Thailand had not declared war.
How are civilians on both sides reacting?
Residents near the conflict zone reported panic and uncertainty. In Thailand’s Surin province, locals sought shelter in reinforced bunkers. According to CNN, a shopkeeper in Phanom Dong Rak said he and his wife prepared in advance for the possibility of evacuation. In Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, some villagers fled to nearby pagodas, while others stayed behind out of concern for their families and farmland.
“I am so concerned that the bomb drop and the bullet will kill us,” a Cambodian farmer in Sa Em told CNN. “I am worried for my people, my children, my relatives and especially for the troops who fight.”
Thai officials described Cambodian attacks on homes and medical facilities as inhumane and warned they would continue using force to defend national sovereignty.
Why is the temple region so disputed?
Tensions over the border stretch back more than a century, stemming from colonial-era maps drawn by France while Cambodia was under French rule, according to The Washington Post. The Ta Moan Thom and Preah Vihear temples, both ancient religious sites, lie in contested zones where previous clashes have occurred — most notably in 2011, when more than 16 people died in weeklong fighting.
Both nations claim historic rights to the land around these sites, and although officials have made diplomatic attempts to resolve the issue, unclear borders continue to fuel periodic conflict.
What comes next?
Fighting continued into Thursday afternoon with no formal ceasefire announced. Analysts warn the situation may escalate further. Some analysts say Cambodia is risking escalation despite Thailand’s military advantage.
“Hun Sen and his associates are playing quite a dangerous game,” Anthony Davis, a security analyst with the Janes military publishing group said. “This may drag on for days or weeks.”
Thailand and Cambodia are both members of the ASEAN regional bloc, and Malaysia, the current chair, has called for calm and diplomatic dialogue.
China also expressed concern, offering to help de-escalate tensions. For now, the militaries remain on high alert as regional leaders push for restraint.
