A tense and dangerous conflict erupted on Thursday along the Thailand‑Cambodia border, sending shockwaves through the region and leaving families on both sides scrambling for answers.
Thailand launched air strikes after Cambodian forces fired rockets and artillery shells into Thai territory, killing at least 11 civilians and wounding others in the early hours of the morning. The violence, described by officials as one of the worst flare‑ups in years, immediately shut down border crossings and forced evacuations.
Footage from Sisaket province showed smoke pouring from a convenience store attached to a petrol station, where most of the victims were students caught in the blast. Sirens wailed as emergency workers pulled survivors from the debris. Hours later, relatives arrived, some crying quietly as soldiers blocked them from getting closer.
This is not the first time these two neighbors have clashed. They have argued for decades over a contested zone called the Emerald Triangle, a rugged area where their borders meet Laos. It is home to ancient temples and disputed land, and it has repeatedly sparked violence. Fighting broke out more than 15 years ago, again in May this year, and now, suddenly, with devastating speed, it has erupted once more.
Cambodia and Thailand are now trading blame. Cambodian officials said Thai troops launched an assault first. Their statement claimed Cambodian forces acted in self‑defense to protect their sovereignty. Thailand’s military countered with a different story, accusing Cambodia of firing first and deliberately targeting civilians.
Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia, said that on the morning of July 25 Thailand illegally used cluster bombs to attack Cambodia, which is a violation of international law. pic.twitter.com/LP8Dc7ClID
— Mech Dara (@MechDara1) July 25, 2025
The escalation began before sunrise. Thai forces guarding Ta Muen temple reported spotting a Cambodian drone overhead. Minutes later, according to the Thai army, six armed Cambodian soldiers approached a fence near the Thai post. By 8:20 a.m., gunfire and explosions echoed across the border.
Within hours, six Thai F‑16 fighter jets were in the air, striking what the Thai military called “Cambodian military targets on the ground.” Cambodia reported heavy damage and accused Thailand of what it described as an illegal attack.
Diplomatic fallout has been swift. Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own envoy, while Cambodia downgraded ties, removing nearly all its diplomats. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai urged calm but insisted the country would defend its territory. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting, warning of “unprovoked military aggression.”
The United States is gravely concerned by reports of the escalating fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border. We are particularly alarmed by reports of harm to innocent civilians. We express our deepest condolences on the loss of life. We strongly urge the immediate cessation… pic.twitter.com/jJkLVGKTqZ
— U.S. Embassy Cambodia (@USEmbPhnomPenh) July 25, 2025
Tensions were already rising before Thursday’s bloodshed. Just days earlier, a Thai patrol was hit by a landmine, wounding five soldiers. Trade restrictions and tit‑for‑tat measures have added to the strain, while political instability inside Thailand has only deepened the uncertainty.
Leaders across the region are watching closely. China said it was “deeply concerned” and told its citizens to avoid the border. Malaysia, chair of ASEAN, called on both sides to step back and seek dialogue.
For now, the border remains sealed, families remain displaced, and the wreckage of a convenience store in Sisaket stands as a grim reminder of how quickly a long‑running dispute can turn deadly.
