Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflicts (2025)

The Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflicts (2025) is a military crisis arising from the escalation of an ongoing border dispute between the two countries into armed conflict. On 24 July 2025, armed clashes that began in the disputed area between Thailand’s Surin Province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey Province escalated due to mutual military interventions and a collapse of diplomatic relations to their lowest level.

Origin and Triggering Events

First Contact Near Ta Muen Thom Temple

On the morning of 24 July 2025, armed clashes erupted between Thai and Cambodian forces near the Ta Muen Thom Temple, located in the disputed area between Thailand’s Surin Province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey Province. According to Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC), at 07:30, the Cambodian military conducted an unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance operation near Thai border units. Subsequently, six Cambodian soldiers armed with grenade launchers approached the area and refused to withdraw despite verbal warnings from the Thai side. At approximately 08:20, Thailand announced that Cambodian forces had opened direct fire, prompting a retaliatory response.

The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense, however, stated that the incident began at 06:30 when Thai soldiers installed barbed wire around a Khmer-Hindu temple, violating existing agreements. According to the ministry, Thai forces fired into the air at 08:30 and then opened direct fire at 08:46, initiating the clash. Cambodia declared that its response was conducted within the framework of its right to legitimate self-defense.

Mine Explosion and Escalation of Diplomatic Crisis

The day before the clashes, on 23 July, a Thai soldier lost his right leg in a mine explosion in the border region. On 16 July, three additional Thai soldiers were wounded by mines in the same area. The Thai government alleged that these mines had been recently laid by Cambodia along the border on its side. Cambodia rejected the accusation, asserting that the mine responsible for the explosion had been buried in the region for years and that Thai units had been operating illegally within this former battlefield in violation of prior agreements.

Following the mine incident, the Thai government decided to expel Cambodia’s ambassador in Bangkok and simultaneously recalled its own ambassador from Phnom Penh. In response, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had reduced diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level and withdrew all diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Bangkok.

Military Developments and Conflict Zones

Thailand’s F-16 Air Operations

In response to the escalation of border clashes on the morning of 24 July 2025, the Thai Armed Forces deployed six F-16 fighter jets. According to the Thai military, one of these aircraft dropped a bomb on a military target inside Cambodian territory, destroying it. Thai Army Spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon confirmed that air power had been used as planned. The Royal Thai Air Force verified that all F-16s completed their missions and returned safely to their bases.

The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense, however, reported that Thai fighter jets had entered Cambodian airspace without authorization and dropped two bombs on a highway in Preah Vihear Province, labeling the attack as a “serious and reckless military strike.” The ministry characterized Thailand’s air operations as violations of sovereignty and breaches of international law, and affirmed its right to retaliate.

Cambodia’s Counteroffensive and Rocket Fire

The Cambodian Armed Forces responded to Thai attacks by targeting various Thai military positions along the border. The Phnom Penh government maintained that Thailand initiated the aggression and characterized its actions as a “counteroffensive.” Cambodian forces employed heavy machine guns, artillery systems, and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems.

Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilians, reporting attacks on Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, civilian settlements, and a fuel station. Casualties occurred particularly in the provinces of Sisaket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani. According to local authorities in Kabcheeng, nearly 40,000 civilians were evacuated from 86 villages.

Conflict Zones: Sisaket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani

Since the morning of 24 July, clashes have been most intense in three border provinces in eastern Thailand. According to data from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, eight people died in Sisaket Province, including one soldier; two in Surin Province; and one in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Among the deceased were an eight-year-old child and a 15-year-old youth. Fourteen people were reported injured.

As a result of the clashes, a fuel station in Ban Phue, Sisaket, was bombed, triggering a large-scale fire. The Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province was also attacked, with civilians reported injured. Civilian casualties occurred in Kabcheeng District due to BM-21 rocket strikes.

Total Casualties and Injured

According to Thai official statements, at least 12 people died in the clashes, 11 of them civilians and one a soldier. Among the injured were children and elderly individuals. The Thai public was directed to shelters, and in some areas, residents were evacuated to school buildings.

Cambodia has made no official statement regarding its own casualties. Mutual accusations persist that civilians have been targeted by both sides.

Impact on Civilians and Evacuations

School Closures and Temporary Shelters

As the clashes intensified in the early morning hours, Thailand’s Ministry of Education ordered the closure of all schools in border areas. According to the Bangkok-based Thai Enquirer news agency, a total of 582 schools in Surin, Sisaket and Buriram provinces were closed for security reasons. Some of these schools were repurposed as temporary evacuation centers.

Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat instructed all educational institutions in border regions to develop systematic emergency response plans. As part of this initiative, reinforced concrete shelters and structures strengthened with sandbags and tires were constructed for students and teachers.

Population Evacuation

According to statements by local administrations under Thailand’s Ministry of Interior, between 30,000 and 40,000 civilians were evacuated from the Kap Choeng and Phanom Dong Rak areas of Surin Province. Children, the elderly and persons with disabilities were prioritized for evacuation and directed to safe zones and evacuation centers.

The majority of the evacuated population has been accommodated in school buildings and municipal facilities, with food and medical supplies provided. Settlement areas around the bombed fuel station in Sisaket have been completely evacuated, and entry to and exit from the region have been prohibited. Residents of rural villages in Ubon Ratchathani have also been urged to evacuate.

Local media sources have reported that some schools in Cambodia have been emptied and students evacuated. Citizens of numerous countries, including China and Malaysia, have been advised to stay away from the conflict zone. Thailand has called on its citizens to leave Cambodia through its Embassy in Phnom Penh.

International Reactions

Call to the United Nations Security Council

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to the military developments. In a letter addressed to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, he stated that Thailand’s actions threaten regional peace and stability and demanded immediate intervention by the Security Council. Hun Manet described Thailand’s aerial strikes on the Preah Vihear and Ta Krabey areas, heavy artillery bombardments, and ground operations as “systematic aggression.”

The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued an official statement asserting that Thailand’s military interventions are unilateral, provocative, and premeditated, and that these actions violate international law and the UN Charter. The statement emphasized that Thailand’s deployment of heavy weapons and combat aircraft along the border constitutes a serious threat to regional security.

Reactions from China, Malaysia, and ASEAN

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed “deep concern” over the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. He called on both parties to resolve their disputes through dialogue and consultation. China underscored the importance of both countries—both ASEAN members—developing friendly relations for regional stability and indicated its willingness to play a constructive role in reducing tensions.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, announced that he would hold direct talks with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia. Ibrahim stressed that both sides must immediately cease hostilities and called for “at least a cessation of fire.” Malaysia affirmed its commitment to pursuing solutions to the crisis in line with ASEAN’s principles of unity and regional peace.

Mutual Accusations

The Thai Ministry of Defense announced that the Cambodian military had launched attacks across the border using heavy weapons and targeted civilian areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the attack on the Phanom Dong Rak Hospital constituted a violation of international law and affirmed Thailand’s right to legitimate self-defense.

The Cambodian Ministry of Defense stated that the conflict began with Thailand’s violation of the border and that its forces responded within the bounds of legitimate self-defense. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled Thailand’s aerial strikes as “uncontrolled military aggression” and asserted that they violate international law.

Thailand has claimed that Cambodia attacked hospitals, fuel stations, and populated areas, asserting that these acts constitute war crimes. Cambodia, in turn, reported that Thai bombs targeted civilian roads in the Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces.

Thai military social media accounts have shared footage of destruction and civilian evacuations in the conflict zones. Cambodian media, by contrast, have highlighted Thai aerial strikes and border incursions. Both sides continue to inform public opinion through official and local media with reciprocal accusations.

Historical Background and Origins of the Border Dispute

The origins of the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia date back to the French colonial period in the 19th century. After Cambodia became a French colony in 1863, its borders with Siam (the historical name for Thailand) were redrawn under an agreement signed in 1904. As a result of this boundary adjustment, the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, previously located within Thai territory, was incorporated into Cambodian land. Thailand, however, has consistently objected, arguing that France acted unilaterally in demarcating the border and that sovereignty over the temple area was improperly transferred.

This dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple area has become the most contentious section of the 817-kilometer land border between the two countries. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but it did not resolve ambiguities regarding the surrounding territories. Cambodia’s successful 2008 bid to have the temple inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List triggered protests and military tensions in Thailand. On Cambodia’s request, the ICJ issued a further ruling in 2013, definitively affirming Cambodian sovereignty over the temple and its surrounding lands. This dispute has formed the historical foundation for the escalating tensions that led to armed clashes along the border by 2025.

On 28 May 2025, a brief armed clash along the Thailand-Cambodia border resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier. Following the incident, both sides announced a temporary ceasefire; however, tensions along the border have not diminished, and military activity continues.

Expansion of Conflicts

As of 25 July 2025, the clashes along the Thailand-Cambodia border have spread to twelve distinct locations. The Royal Thai Armed Forces announced that they had initiated “situational support fire” after their units stationed near the Cambodian border came under attack. In this context, F-16 fighter jets conducted aerial strikes on specific targets within the conflict zones. Cambodian authorities alleged that Thai fighter aircraft dropped bombs on the Preah Vihear region and that these attacks damaged sacred sites. The clashes have been reported to be concentrated primarily in the provinces of Surin, Sisaket, Buriram and Ubon Ratchathani. The Thai Ministry of Defence stated that artillery units have responded to Cambodian positions from designated points along the border.

Updated Casualty and Injury Figures

As of 25 July 2025, the Thai government announced that 15 people had lost their lives as a result of the clashes, 14 of whom were civilians and one a soldier. According to data from the Thai Ministry of Public Health, more than 30 civilians and 15 soldiers have been injured. A rocket attack on a gas station in Sisaket province killed six people and injured ten. Three deaths were reported in the provinces of Surin and Ubon Ratchathani. On the Cambodian side, one civilian was reported killed, but no comprehensive official statement on casualties has been issued.

Civilian Evacuations

As of 25 July 2025, the Thai government announced that over 100,000 people had been evacuated from border areas. The majority of evacuated civilians were from Surin province, followed by Sisaket, Buriram and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Additionally, it was reported that 428 patients had been transferred from various medical facilities to safer areas. According to data from the Ministry of Interior, more than 300 temporary evacuation centers have been established in the region.

Cambodian media reported that approximately 20,000 civilians were evacuated from Preah Vihear province. Priority during the evacuations was given to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and the sick.

Diplomatic Initiatives and United Nations Security Council Process

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an official letter to the United Nations General Assembly, accused Cambodia of aggression threatening international peace. The Thai government informed the international community by reporting Cambodian border violations and attacks on civilian targets. Cambodia, in turn, called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. In response, the United Nations announced on 26 July 2025 that it would hold an extraordinary session to discuss the Thailand-Cambodia clashes.

Alleged Damage to Preah Vihear Temple

The Cambodian Ministry of Culture announced that the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had sustained damage from aerial strikes conducted by Thai fighter aircraft. The statement indicated that certain sections of the temple had been destroyed and that these attacks, posing a significant risk to cultural heritage, would be documented and submitted to international organizations. The Thai side denied conducting any direct attack on Preah Vihear, asserting that only military targets had been engaged. No independent assessment has been released by UNESCO.

Ceasefire Negotiations and Agreement Process in Kuala Lumpur

On 27 July 2025, Thailand and Cambodia reached an agreement on an urgent ceasefire during diplomatic talks held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. The talks were facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet attended the meeting. It was reported that US President Donald Trump had directly contacted the parties and warned that customs tariff negotiations would be suspended. Following the talks, an “urgent and unconditional ceasefire” was declared effective from 00.00 on 28 July 2025.

The ceasefire decision was announced at a joint press conference held in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia, holding the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), led the mediation process. It was stated that the parties demonstrated political will to halt hostilities and restore peace.

Parties’ Ceasefire Conditions and Implementation Mechanism

To ensure the feasibility of the ceasefire, the parties agreed to establish a multilateral monitoring mechanism. Accordingly, a trilateral observation system will be created involving the defense and foreign ministries of Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that this mechanism would be based on the principles of sustainable peace and accountability.

It was also indicated that a meeting of the General Boundary Commission (GBC) will be held on 4 August 2025 in Cambodia. During this meeting, issues including the continuity of the ceasefire, the withdrawal of border forces by both parties, and the non-deployment of heavy weapons along the border will be addressed. ASEAN members have declared their intention to monitor and support the process.

Recent Conflicts and Mutual Accusations Before the Ceasefire

Before the ceasefire was declared on 27 July 2025, intense fighting occurred along the border near Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom. The Thai Armed Forces announced that Cambodia had targeted Thai villages with multi-barrel rocket systems, resulting in civilian casualties. Cambodia, in turn, alleged that Thai F-16 aircraft had damaged cultural heritage sites in the Preah Vihear region.

Both sides blamed each other for artillery and air attacks immediately preceding the ceasefire. Mutual accusations, particularly regarding attacks on civilian targets, were publicly communicated by both parties.

Updated Casualty and Evacuation Information (28 July 2025)

As of 28 July 2025, the total number of fatalities in the clashes was reported to be at least 33. Of these, 13 were civilians in Thailand and 8 were civilians in Cambodia. The Thai military stated that 140,000 civilians from seven affected provinces had been evacuated and relocated to temporary shelters. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense announced that 135,000 people had been moved away from border areas.

Elderly people, children and the sick were prioritized in evacuation efforts. Displaced civilians reported continuing to hear artillery fire from nearby settlements. Despite the ceasefire declaration, security concerns persist in some border regions.