Armed clashes broke out Thursday between Thailand and Cambodia in long-disputed border areas, rapidly escalating months-long tensions.
The fighting included gunfire exchanges and shelling and rocket fire, which Thai authorities said killed at least nine Thai civilians and injured 14 others in three provinces. Thailand responded with air strikes.
More than 12 people, including several civilians, have been reported killed in clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops in a disputed area of their countries’ shared border.
Thailand’s military said Cambodian troops opened fire first with heavy weapons, while Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said its troops acted in self-defense after coming under attack.
There have been deaths and injuries among soldiers on both sides, and the bad blood between former Cambodian PM Hun Sen and former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra will intensify the political will on both sides to keep fighting.
Thaksin and Hun Sen were long-time allies, but Hun Sen’s leaking of the recording of a damaging phone call between him and Thaksin’s daughter, now suspended PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, means the gloves are now off between the two sides.
This is a dangerous flare-up that could destabilize the region if not contained quickly. For the average American, this might seem like a distant squabble over ancient ruins, but it has roots in colonialism, nationalism, and modern power plays. It also raises concerns about US interests, from trade routes to alliances in the Indo-Pacific.
The Thai-Cambodia border dispute isn’t new—it’s a legacy of colonial map-drawing that has haunted Southeast Asia since the early 20th century. During French colonial rule over what is now Cambodia (then part of French Indochina), borders were drawn in 1904-1907 based on watershed lines in the Dangrek Mountains. These lines placed several ancient Khmer Hindu temples, built during the Khmer Empire (9th-15th centuries), on the Cambodian side. Thailand (then Siam) contested this, arguing the maps didn’t reflect natural or historical boundaries.
The flashpoint has long been the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site perched on a cliff overlooking the border. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple itself belongs to Cambodia, but it left the surrounding 4.6 square kilometers of land ambiguous.
This ruling didn’t end the feud; instead, it fueled periodic violence. From 2008 to 2013, clashes over Preah Vihear and nearby sites like Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai killed dozens and displaced thousands, leading to a fragile ceasefire brokered by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Tensions have ebbed and flowed since, often tied to domestic politics. In Thailand, nationalist sentiments spike during election cycles or military-led governments; in Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Manet’s administration (successor to his father Hun Sen’s long rule) uses border issues to rally support. Both countries are ASEAN members, which has helped prevent full-scale war, but the border remains militarized with troops, landmines, and artillery on both sides.
Recent reports indicate tensions have been building since May 2025, with incidents like drone incursions and troop movements setting the stage for today’s explosion.
What Sparked the Current Clashes?
The immediate trigger for the July 24 clashes appears to be a series of landmine explosions that injured Thai soldiers patrolling near the border in Surin Province.
Thailand accuses Cambodia of planting new mines in disputed territory, violating agreements, while Cambodia claims the mines are remnants from past conflicts and blames Thai “incursions” for the incidents.
This led to cross-border gunfire starting early Thursday morning near the Ta Muen Thom temple, quickly escalating into artillery exchanges, rocket barrages, and airstrikes.
Deeper causes run through nationalism and resource competition. Both nations claim sovereignty over resource-rich border areas, including potential oil and gas deposits. Domestic politics play a big role: Thailand’s government, facing economic pressures, may be using the dispute to divert attention, while Cambodia’s leadership portrays it as defending against Thai aggression.
Landmines—leftover from Cambodia’s civil war era and the Khmer Rouge—remain a persistent hazard, with thousands still buried, exacerbating mistrust.
The fighting has spread to multiple points along the 800-kilometer border, affecting provinces like Surin, Sisaket, and Oddar Meanchey.
Casualties are mounting: Thai authorities report at least 12 deaths, including civilians and soldiers, with over 40 injured.
Cambodia claims similar losses, including children, and accuses Thailand of targeting civilian sites like hospitals.
Thailand has deployed F-16 fighter jets for airstrikes on Cambodian positions, while Cambodia has fired BM-21 rockets into Thai towns.
Borders are sealed, ambassadors expelled, and thousands of civilians have evacuated amid the chaos.
From a US perspective, this isn’t just regional noise. The US has military ties with Thailand (a treaty ally) and has provided aid to Cambodia, but the clashes could disrupt supply chains for electronics and textiles that flow through Southeast Asia. The US Embassy in Bangkok has issued warnings about border fighting, urging Americans to avoid the area.
The Path to Resolution: Diplomacy or Stalemate?
Resolving this won’t be easy, but history offers clues. Past flare-ups, like the 2011 clashes, ended with ASEAN-mediated ceasefires and joint patrols.
Both sides have already appealed to the United Nations: Cambodia is pushing for a Security Council meeting, accusing Thailand of “aggression,” while Thailand briefs the UN on alleged Cambodian violations.
ASEAN, with Indonesia often acting as a broker, could step in again—its charter emphasizes peaceful dispute resolution.
In the short term, expect de-escalation through backchannel talks. Neither country wants a full war: Thailand’s economy relies on tourism and exports, while Cambodia is still recovering from decades of conflict. International pressure, including from the US and China (which has influence in Cambodia via Belt and Road investments), could hasten a truce. The ICJ might be invoked again for border clarification, though enforcement is tricky.
Longer-term, a permanent fix requires bilateral demarcation agreements, demining efforts, and economic cooperation—perhaps joint tourism at the temples. But nationalism could prolong the standoff, leading to a frozen conflict with occasional skirmishes.
This clash is more posturing than prelude to war, but miscalculations (like accidental civilian hits) could spiral. The US should push for dialogue through ASEAN and the UN, while monitoring for broader implications—like if China exploits the divide to expand influence. For now, watch for ceasefire announcements in the coming days; the world can’t afford another hotspot in an already tense Asia. If you’re planning travel to Thailand or Cambodia, check State Department advisories—these borders are no place for tourists right now.