A violent escalation along the Thai-Cambodian border on 24 July 2025 has left at least six civilians dead and two others injured after rockets allegedly launched from Cambodia struck a PTT gas station housing a 7-Eleven outlet in Sisaket province, Thailand. The incident is part of a larger wave of armed clashes that have erupted in multiple locations along the disputed boundary between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Rocket Attack Destroys 7-Eleven, Kills Civilians
According to local authorities, two BM-21 rockets landed in Ban Phue, Kantharalak district, igniting a blaze at a petrol station and convenience store. A widely circulated video on social media showed the wreckage and victims, including a body on the back of a pick-up truck, highlighting the human toll of the escalating military exchange.
Sutthiroj Charoenthanasak, chief of Surin’s Kap Choeng district, confirmed that four people were initially wounded in Ban Jorok village after the rocket strike. Two of the injured later died from their wounds. Among the survivors is a 12-year-old boy, while another adult remains in critical condition.
Reports indicate that one of the shells also landed just outside the Phanom Dong Rak hospital compound. Fortunately, the facility had already been evacuated, preventing a potential mass casualty event.
Thailand Responds with Air Strikes
Following the attack, the Royal Thai Air Force deployed six F-16 fighter jets from Ubon Ratchathani to launch retaliatory air strikes on what were described as Cambodian military targets. Thai military sources stated the operation aimed to neutralise artillery units and prevent further cross-border rocket launches.
The Cambodian defence ministry responded sharply, accusing Thailand of “reckless and brutal aggression” after two bombs were dropped on a road within Cambodian territory. The ministry claims Cambodia was forced into action after what it termed an “unprovoked incursion” by Thai troops.
Authorities in Thailand have begun evacuating civilians in four border provinces as a precautionary measure, while multiple towns, including Ban Sao Thong Chai, have activated old makeshift bunkers last used during the 2011 border standoff.
Who Fired First? Conflicting Claims Intensify Tensions
As is often the case in territorial conflicts, both sides accuse the other of sparking the confrontation.
Thai military sources allege that the incident began when a drone was spotted flying near the Khao Phra Wihan area early Thursday morning. Shortly after, six armed Cambodian soldiers were reportedly seen advancing towards a Thai outpost. Despite Thai troops attempting to defuse the situation verbally, gunfire allegedly erupted from the Cambodian side.
Cambodia strongly denies initiating the violence. Its defence ministry maintains that Thai forces crossed into Cambodian territory, prompting its soldiers to act in self-defence. In a statement, it reiterated that Cambodia remains committed to protecting its sovereignty while calling for restraint from Bangkok.
A Dangerous Flashpoint in Southeast Asia
This recent outbreak of violence is one of the most serious in years and underscores the fragility of relations between Thailand and Cambodia. The two countries share a historically contentious 800-kilometre border, much of it poorly demarcated since colonial times. Past disputes have often flared around ancient temple sites, including Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom.
The 2011 standoff saw similar rocket attacks, civilian evacuations, and military escalations. With clashes now confirmed in at least six locations, the risk of a broader military conflict looms large.
As ASEAN remains largely silent, observers warn that without immediate diplomatic intervention, the situation may spiral further out of control. Nationalist sentiment is rising on both sides, and the international community – including the United Nations – may soon be compelled to intervene to prevent further loss of life.
This is a developing story. Updates will follow.