A long dispute between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into violence on Thursday, leaving at least a dozen people dead and pushing the two nations to the brink of war. What began with a landmine blast escalated rapidly into fierce fighting with heavy weapons near disputed ancient temples.
Thailand Cambodia Border Dispute: What We Know So Far
The conflict is centred around overlapping territorial claims near ancient temples. The conflict has intensified in recent days, following a series of armed incidents including landmine explosions and reported airstrikes.
Reportedly, the conflict has triggered a complete diplomatic collapse, with both countries expelling each other's ambassadors, closing their shared border, and trading furious accusations of targeting civilians and committing illegal acts of aggression.
As the international community watches with growing concern, both sides have sought to blame the other while calling for intervention from bodies like the United Nations Security Council.
1. At least eleven Thai civilians and one military personnel have been killed due to artillery fire from Cambodia, Thai officials say. Thailand also reported that seven of its soldiers have been wounded. In a Facebook post, the Thai army accused Cambodian forces of firing BM-21 rockets into Surin’s Kap Choeng district, hitting civilian areas, reported Al Jazeera.
2. Ministry of National Defence accused Thailand of “brutal and illegal military aggression,” claiming Thai jets dropped bombs on Cambodian territory and used heavy weaponry. A spokesperson said these actions “violated international law” and ASEAN norms, while adding that Cambodia's forces were prepared to defend its sovereignty “at all costs”.
3. According to a Thai army’s Facebook post, Cambodian artillery targeted Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin province. While details remain limited, the alleged strike on a medical facility escalated fears of civilian targeting, leading Thailand to issue evacuation warnings and bolster border defences in affected areas.
4. Thailand responded by closing all border checkpoints with Cambodia and advising Thai nationals to evacuate Cambodia if possible. The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh posted alerts urging citizens to leave unless absolutely necessary. A livestream video from the Thai border villages showed civilians fleeing into bunkers as explosions echoed nearby.
5. In less than 48 hours, both countries expelled each other’s ambassadors. Cambodia downgraded diplomatic ties to their “lowest level”, pulling most staff from its Bangkok embassy. These moves followed Thai claims that Cambodia planted new landmines in contested territory—a charge Phnom Penh has denied.
6. Wednesday’s landmine blast that injured five Thai soldiers was the immediate trigger. Thailand claims the mines were newly planted Russian-made devices, violating a previous agreement that marked the area as safe. Cambodia insisted the blast occurred on its side of the border and blamed leftover unexploded ordnance from past wars.
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7. In a notable domestic development, Cambodia recently announced it would revive a dormant mandatory military draft law to conscript civilians starting next year. Prime Minister Hun Manet declared Cambodia had "no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression", emphasising military readiness amid growing hostilities.
8. Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, condemned what she called Cambodian aggression, saying on social media that Cambodian forces had “initiated the use of arms and fired into Thai territory — impacting both officials and innocent civilians.” The New York Times qouted
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