At least 11 Thai civilians, including an 8-year-old child, were killed in renewed border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia on Thursday, Thai military officials told Reuters. An additional 14 people were injured in a shelling incident near the disputed frontier.
In retaliation, the Thai army launched airstrikes using F-16 fighter jets against what it described as Cambodian military targets. The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh issued a notice urging all Thai nationals to leave Cambodia immediately amid escalating violence.
Photographs from the Preah Vihear province on July 24 show Cambodian soldiers reloading BM-21 multiple rocket launchers, indicating intensified military activity on both sides.
Historical roots of a volatile border
The current flare-up is the latest chapter in a long-standing territorial dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours. Tensions date back to 1907, during the French colonial period, when newly drawn maps granted Cambodia administrative control over certain areas previously claimed by Bangkok.
Since then, the conflict has largely centred on disputed land surrounding ancient temples near the border, particularly the Preah Vihear temple complex. Although the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cambodia in 1962, sporadic fighting has continued for decades.
Significant border clashes erupted in 2008 and again in 2011, involving sustained gunfire and artillery shelling around jungle areas and centuries-old religious sites. Each side blamed the other for initiating those conflicts, and a ceasefire agreement was eventually brokered after a week of deadly exchanges.
Rising tension in 2025
Tensions began to resurface in May 2025, when a Cambodian soldier was killed under unclear circumstances. The situation deteriorated further on 24 July, when a Thai soldier lost his right leg after stepping on a land mine. Thai authorities accused Cambodian forces of laying the explosive, an allegation Phnom Penh denied.
This incident triggered a new wave of hostilities, with both countries exchanging gunfire and artillery along the contested border.
Thailand has since downgraded diplomatic ties with Cambodia, blaming Phnom Penh for triggering the conflict. Cambodia, in turn, has accused Thailand of violating its sovereignty and escalating tensions deliberately.
The international community has yet to respond formally, though regional analysts warn that the situation could spiral further if immediate diplomatic efforts are not initiated.
As of Friday, no ceasefire has been agreed, and both militaries remain on high alert.
The long-standing dispute underscores the fragility of peace in the region and the lingering impact of unresolved colonial-era border agreements.
