Border Clashes Erupt Between Thailand and Cambodia
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into open conflict Thursday morning as Cambodian troops fired on a Thai military base in Surin province and launched rockets into Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province. The Thai army reported widespread clashes across six locations along the contested border, raising fears of a broader conflict.
According to the Royal Thai Army, the confrontation began at approximately 7:35 a.m. when Thai forces detected a Cambodian unmanned aerial vehicle circling above the Ta Muen Thom temple ruins in Phanom Dong Rak district, Surin. Shortly afterward, six Cambodian soldiers approached a barbed-wire fence near a Thai base, heavily armed with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.
Thai troops warned the Cambodian unit not to provoke violence. Nevertheless, at 8:20 a.m., Cambodian forces opened fire on the Moo Pa military base, located roughly 200 meters east of the ruins. The Thai 2nd Army Region stated on social media that Cambodian artillery units had positioned themselves in civilian areas, effectively using local populations as human shields.
Artillery fire soon rained down on the historic temple ruins at 8:50 a.m., with heavy exchanges continuing throughout the morning. By 9:15 a.m., Cambodian troops reportedly intensified their assault near Moo Pa, injuring at least one Thai soldier.
At 9:40 a.m., Cambodian forces fired BM-21 rocket launchers at the Don Tuan temple ruins in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province. Fifteen minutes later, shells struck a residential area in Surin’s Kap Choeng district, injuring at least three civilians. Authorities initiated civilian evacuations across four northeastern provinces as a safety precaution.
The clashes follow a landmine incident on Wednesday that injured five Thai soldiers near the Chong An Ma border crossing in Ubon Ratchathani province. One soldier lost a leg. The Thai army accused Cambodian forces of planting the mines recently, exacerbating already fragile relations.
In response to Thursday’s attacks, Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang of Thailand’s 2nd Region Army ordered the immediate closure of temple ruins and the sealing of the border in the area.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed on Facebook that Thai forces had fired first, attacking Cambodian positions near the Preah Vihear and Ta Krabei temples in Oddar Meanchey province. “Cambodia always maintains a stance of wanting to resolve issues peacefully,” Hun Manet wrote, “but in this case, we have no choice but to respond with armed force against this armed invasion.”
Diplomatic relations deteriorated quickly. On Wednesday, Thailand expelled Cambodian Ambassador Hun Saroeun and recalled its envoy from Phnom Penh. Thailand has briefed foreign diplomats and military attachés on the situation and is seeking action under the United Nations’ Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
Bangkok also reaffirmed its stance that it does not recognize the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction over border disputes. This contrasts with Cambodia’s position—following a deadly May clash, Phnom Penh had petitioned the ICJ in The Hague to mediate on four contested land areas.
Despite a long history of disputes, Thai-Cambodian relations had been largely peaceful since the deadly 2011 skirmishes near the Preah Vihear temple. However, the resurgence of violence around cultural heritage sites and populated areas raises alarms over a potential long-term conflict.
Military units on both sides remain on high alert, with Thailand preparing six F-16 fighter jets for potential deployment. Meanwhile, regional leaders and international observers are calling for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy to prevent further bloodshed.
