Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict Escalates, Civilians Killed and Borders Closed

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have dramatically escalated, with both sides heavily engaging in military confrontation and diplomatic reprisals after a deadly rocket attack near their shared border. At least nine civilians have now been declared, along with 14 others wounded—among whom is a five-year-old child—after Cambodian forces reportedly targeted Thai territory with a rocket that landed three kilometers from their border. In response, Thailand has completely shut down all border crossings into Cambodia and placed its military on full combat alert.

The violence erupted near the disputed Ta Muen Thom Temple in Thailand’s Surin Province, a flashpoint in the century-old border conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations. According to Thai officials, Cambodian forces targeted the Moo Pa Thai military post, which is only 200 meters from the historic temple, with rocket-propelled grenades and artillery bombs. Thai forces immediately retaliated under a pre-established military response plan known as the Chakrabongse Bhuvanath Plan.

The Thai military confirmed that one of six deployed F-16 fighter jets bombed a Cambodian military target. Cambodian officials, however, claimed the Thai jets dropped bombs on a road inside Cambodian territory, calling the strikes “reckless and brutal military aggression.” Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence accused Thailand of violating its sovereignty and said the country had no choice but to defend itself.

The situation grew more tense following a landmine explosion on Wednesday near the Chong An Ma border crossing in Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province. Five Thai soldiers were injured, one of whom lost a leg. Thailand claims the explosives were newly planted by Cambodian forces—an allegation Phnom Penh denies. Cambodia insists the blast was caused by leftover ordnance from past conflicts, and that Thai troops had strayed off the agreed-upon patrol route.

The border skirmish has forced tens of thousands of Thai civilians to flee. Authorities evacuated over 40,000 people from 86 villages in Surin province. Shelters made of concrete and sandbags have been set up to protect residents from further artillery attacks. Eyewitnesses reported non-stop gunfire and explosions throughout Thursday, with homes and even a hospital being hit in the crossfire.

Thailand's return of its own envoy from Phnom Penh and the expulsion of Cambodian Ambassador Hun Saroeun late Wednesday night caused a major diplomatic setback.   Cambodia reacted by downgrading diplomatic relations and demanding an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.   Thailand claims it is defending its territory from unwarranted attacks, but Cambodia charges Thailand with attempting to use force to seize land.  The accusations between the two countries are still being exchanged.According to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai forces escalated their onslaught into Mom Bei by attacking Cambodian positions close to the Ta Mone Thom and Ta Krabey temples in Oddar Meanchey province. He stated that Cambodia had always sought peaceful resolution but was now forced to respond with strength. Meanwhile, Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai described the situation as “delicate” and emphasized the need to proceed cautiously while adhering to international law.

The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia comes from maps made during the colonial era when France was in charge of Cambodia. Cambodia relies on these maps for its territorial claims, while Thailand considers these maps outdated and invalid. Even after 154 years of colonial history, the 817-kilometer border has not been finalized and poorly accommodates continuous conflicts and sporadic violence. Past outbreaks of violence, including an armed conflict in 2011 that included a week-long exchange of mortar and artillery rounds resulted in and took significant casualties, pushed the countries diplomatic ties.

Recent tensions were reignited in May after the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief skirmish. Matters worsened last month after former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, now President of the Senate, publicly leaked a private phone call with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The leak triggered a political scandal in Thailand, eventually leading to Shinawatra’s suspension by the Constitutional Court.

The current crisis has heightened long-standing acrimony and reignited fears of a regional war. As the spat escalates and as military actions escalate on both sides, international observers have suggested that the strife could escalate further still with significant humanitarian implications and worse consequences for regional geopolitics. Thailand's foreign ministry has urged Cambodia to cease attacks and withdraw its troops from the contested areas, warning Cambodia of greater self-defense if the fighting were to continue.With both nations on high alert and diplomatic relations deteriorating rapidly, the path to peace remains uncertain. In order to keep the conflict from getting out of hand, the international community is keeping a careful eye on the situation and is increasingly calling for quick communication and de-escalation.