Bangkok — Thai and Cambodian troopers clashed in a number of areas alongside their border Thursday in a significant escalation of their battle that left no less than 11 folks useless, principally civilians. The 2 sides fired small arms, artillery and rockets, and Thailand additionally known as in airstrikes.
Thai villagers could possibly be seen on video fleeing their houses to hunt shelter because the clashes started within the morning.
Combating was ongoing in no less than six areas alongside the border, Thai Protection Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri mentioned. The set off for the clashes was a mine explosion alongside the border on Wednesday that wounded 5 Thai troopers and led Bangkok to withdraw its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled Cambodia’s.
Thailand’s international ministry mentioned all land border crossings with Cambodia had been sealed and communities close to the frontier had been evacuated. It urged all Thai nationals to go away Cambodia.
A screengrab from video supplied by the Thai Military reveals smoke and fireplace rising from a comfort retailer broken amid clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces, in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, Thailand, July 24, 2025.
Military Area 2 through Fb/Handout through REUTERS
The Southeast Asian neighbors have longstanding border disputes that periodically flare alongside their 500-mile frontier and often end in temporary confrontations that generally entails exchanges of gunfire. However relations have deteriorated sharply since a confrontation in Might that killed a Cambodian soldier, and Thursday’s clashes had been far greater in scale and depth than ordinary.
The U.S. Embassy in Thailand famous studies “of fighting, including rocket and artillery fire, between Cambodian and Thai forces along the border,” and it mentioned the Thai authorities was “ordering the evacuation of certain areas.”
“U.S. citizens living or traveling near the Thailand-Cambodia border should follow direction from Thai security services and consult local government authorities for the latest information,” the embassy mentioned.
The primary conflict Thursday morning occurred in an space close to the traditional Ta Muen Thom temple alongside the border of Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.
A video from the Thai aspect confirmed folks operating from their houses and hiding in a concrete bunker as explosions sounded.
Thai individuals who fled clashes between Thai and Cambodian troopers take shelter in Surin province, northeast Thailand, July 24, 2025.
Sunny Chittawil/AP
The Thai military mentioned its forces heard a drone earlier than seeing six armed Cambodian troopers shifting nearer to Thai army positions on the border. It mentioned Thai troopers tried to shout at them to defuse the scenario, however the Cambodian aspect began to open fireplace.
Cambodia’s Protection Ministry, nevertheless, mentioned Thailand deployed a drone first earlier than opening fireplace, and that Cambodia “acted strictly within the bounds of self-defense, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity.”
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote to the present president of the U.N. Safety Council asking for an pressing assembly “to stop Thailand’s aggression.”
The Thai military mentioned it later launched airstrikes on army targets in Cambodia, whereas the Cambodian Protection Ministry mentioned the Thai jets dropped bombs on a highway close to the traditional Preah Vihear temple, which has been the location of among the most distinguished and violent previous conflicts between the nations.
Thailand’s Overseas Ministry accused Cambodia of attacking each army and non-military websites in Thailand, together with a hospital.
“The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand’s sovereignty in accordance with international law and principles,” mentioned Nikorndej Balankura, the ministry’s spokesperson.
OmerSukruGoksu/Getty
Performing Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai mentioned 11 folks have died, together with 10 civilians and one soldier. In the meantime 28 have been injured, 4 of whom had been troopers and the remainder civilians.
Cambodia launched no particulars on deaths or accidents on its aspect.
On Wednesday, Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled the Cambodian ambassador to protest the mine blast that wounded its troopers.
Thai authorities alleged the mines had been newly laid alongside paths that either side had agreed had been presupposed to be secure. They mentioned the mines had been Russian-made and never of a kind employed by Thailand’s army.
Cambodia rejected Thailand’s account as “baseless accusations,” declaring that many unexploded mines and different ordnance are a legacy of twentieth century wars and unrest.
Cambodia additionally downgraded diplomatic relations, recalling all Cambodian employees on Thursday from its embassy in Bangkok.
The border dispute in Might that resulted within the loss of life of a Cambodian soldier has had political fallout in Thailand. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra got here underneath fireplace for for being too fawning in a cellphone name along with her Cambodian counterpart when she tried to defuse the scenario. She has since been suspended from workplace pending an investigation into doable ethics violations over the matter.
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