A deadly border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has erupted into open conflict, with Thai fighter jets reportedly bombing Cambodian military positions on Thursday, 24 July 2025. The clash left at least 11 civilians dead, including an 8-year-old boy, and has forced mass evacuations in Thai provinces near the border.
The most intense confrontation in years between the two Southeast Asian nations now threatens to spiral into a full-scale regional crisis.
Tensions Explode Along Disputed Border
The Thai military confirmed that F-16 fighter jets had launched targeted airstrikes against Cambodian military installations, specifically in areas near the ancient Preah Vihear temple – a site long at the heart of border disagreements.
In a strongly worded statement, Thailand’s military insisted the attacks were directed solely at military targets and were a response to repeated Cambodian incursions, including alleged rocket attacks on civilian zones and the planting of landmines within Thai territory. Thailand has since shut all border crossings with Cambodia.
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry, however, accused Thailand of committing “brutal and barbaric aggression,” claiming two bombs had landed on a road near Preah Vihear, violating international law and threatening the sovereignty of the kingdom. Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency session to address Thailand’s “unprovoked aggression.”
Rocket Strikes, Landmine Blasts & Air Raid Sirens
Violence flared in at least six locations along the contested border. A Cambodian BM-21 rocket allegedly struck a petrol station and a 7-Eleven in Sisaket’s Kantharalak district, killing six and injuring 10 more. Shocking footage circulated online showing wounded civilians lying outside the wreckage as smoke billowed from the site.
Thailand also reported that Cambodian rockets targeted a hospital in Surin province, escalating fears among locals who fled to bunkers and makeshift shelters amid the chaos. The Ministry of Public Health confirmed at least 35 casualties.
Amid the crisis, the Thai army reiterated its right to defend its sovereignty and condemned the “inhumane acts” by Cambodian forces, which they claimed were laying landmines inside Thai territory – a claim Cambodia has rejected.
History of Disputes & Rising Nationalism
This recent clash follows the maiming of two Thai soldiers by landmines within a week – incidents that reignited nationalist sentiment on both sides. The border, roughly 800 kilometres long and poorly demarcated due to colonial-era mapping, has long been a source of friction, particularly around temple zones like Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom.
Cambodia contends it was acting in self-defence after Thai troops allegedly crossed into its territory near the Ta Muen Thom temple, some 400 kilometres northeast of Bangkok. In response, Cambodia said it had mobilised its armed forces and was ready to “defend the kingdom at all costs.”
Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai called the situation delicate, while political analysts warn the conflict could worsen in the coming days. The skirmish has already impacted Thailand’s political landscape — Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces suspension over a leaked call with Cambodia’s ex-leader Hun Sen that has stirred domestic outrage.
Outlook: Will Diplomacy Prevail?
With diplomatic ties rapidly deteriorating — including the recall of ambassadors — ASEAN’s silence has raised eyebrows. Analysts suggest that without immediate regional or international mediation, both Thailand and Cambodia may face prolonged military engagement, with severe humanitarian and economic consequences.
For now, border residents live in fear, as the sound of jet engines and shellfire echoes across what was once a quiet rural landscape.