Thai-Cambodian Tensions Rise After Armed Border Clashes \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into armed clashes Thursday, injuring three civilians. The conflict erupted near disputed temple sites following diplomatic downgrades and recent land mine incidents. Both sides blamed each other for opening fire, sparking fears of broader violence.
Quick Looks
- Armed clashes broke out at multiple border sites Thursday morning.
- Thailand and Cambodia traded blame for initiating gunfire.
- Three civilians injured in Thailand’s Surin province from artillery shells.
- Clashes occurred near the disputed Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple.
- Cambodia’s Prime Minister said the attacks violated territorial sovereignty.
- Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilians and provocation.
- Cambodia downgraded diplomatic ties, expelling the Thai ambassador.
- Thailand had earlier closed border crossings and recalled its envoy.
- Land mine blasts have injured eight Thai soldiers in two weeks.
- Tensions have simmered since a May fatal confrontation.
Deep Look
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into open conflict Thursday as both sides exchanged gunfire in multiple contested zones along their shared border. At least three civilians in Thailand’s Surin province were injured in the clashes, which began near the ancient and disputed Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple and quickly spread to other flashpoints.
The conflict, fueled by years of territorial disputes and recent diplomatic breakdowns, marks one of the most serious escalations between the Southeast Asian neighbors in over a decade. Explosions rang out early Thursday, prompting families to flee their homes and seek shelter in bunkers. A livestream circulating from the Thai side of the border showed residents running for cover amid the chaos.
According to Thailand’s military, the clash began when Thai troops detected an unmanned aerial vehicle and later observed six armed Cambodian soldiers moving toward Thai positions. Thai forces claim they attempted to de-escalate by shouting warnings, but Cambodian troops opened fire.
Cambodia, meanwhile, delivered a sharply different account. Its Ministry of Defense claimed the skirmish began when Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodian territory, triggering a defensive response. “Cambodia acted strictly within the bounds of self-defense, responding to an unprovoked incursion that violated our sovereignty,” said a Defense Ministry statement.
Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned the incident, accusing Thai forces of targeting Cambodian military positions at both Prasat Ta Moan Thom and Prasat Ta Krabey — two historic sites near the border in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. He said clashes later expanded near Preah Vihear province, where border disputes have long simmered.
“Cambodia has always prioritized peaceful resolution,” Hun Manet declared. “But we have no choice but to respond with armed force when aggression threatens our territorial integrity.”
Diplomatic Breakdown Fuels Violence
The military confrontation followed a dramatic breakdown in diplomatic ties. Early Thursday, Cambodia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand to the lowest level, expelled the Thai ambassador from Phnom Penh, and recalled all Cambodian embassy staff in Bangkok. The move was a direct response to Thailand’s actions a day earlier: closing key border crossings, withdrawing its ambassador, and expelling Cambodia’s envoy.
Thailand’s retaliatory steps were driven by a land mine blast on Wednesday that wounded five Thai soldiers — one of whom lost a leg. Just a week earlier, a separate explosion injured three more Thai soldiers. Thai military officials allege that the mines were newly planted along mutually designated safe routes and identified them as Russian-made devices not used by Thailand’s armed forces.
Cambodia rejected the claims as “baseless,” citing decades of conflict that left unexploded mines throughout the region. “We cannot confirm the origin of the device,” Cambodia said, emphasizing the ongoing threat of land mines from past wars in the region, including Khmer Rouge-era violence and Cold War spillovers.
Nationalist Sentiments Intensify the Crisis
Nationalism on both sides has intensified the rhetoric. Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen took to Facebook to call for calm but also urged citizens to trust in the military’s strength. “Do not panic. We are protecting our people and our land,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s embassy in Phnom Penh posted a stark warning on social media: “We advise all Thai nationals to leave Cambodia if possible and strongly discourage any non-essential travel to the country.”
The rising tension comes amid domestic turmoil in Thailand, where Prime Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan was suspended on July 1 over alleged ethics violations related to her handling of earlier border incidents. Her suspension has left a power vacuum that some analysts say emboldened more hawkish voices within the Thai military.
Longstanding Border Disputes and Historic Grievances
The border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a source of recurring tension for decades. At the heart of the dispute is a collection of ancient temples and nearby land, claimed by both nations. The most iconic among them is the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple, perched on a cliff overlooking Cambodia’s northern plains.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia, a verdict Thailand has long resented. When Cambodia returned to the court in 2011 following deadly clashes, the ICJ reaffirmed its ruling in 2013. That decision remains a sore point for many in Thailand, particularly among nationalist groups and segments of the military.
In recent years, both countries have agreed to joint patrols and demining operations. However, cooperation has frayed since May 2025, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish, sparking protests and a wave of recriminations on both sides.
Thursday’s violence, though not the first of its kind, represents the most severe escalation since those earlier confrontations. Analysts warn that further clashes could spiral out of control if diplomatic channels are not restored quickly.
Calls for De-Escalation and International Concern
Regional observers and foreign governments are urging both nations to step back from the brink. ASEAN has yet to issue a formal statement, but multiple diplomats from member states say they are watching the situation “with deep concern.”
International organizations have also expressed alarm over the humanitarian implications, particularly for civilians living near the border. Aid groups are reportedly preparing for possible displacements, though no evacuations have yet been confirmed on the Cambodian side.
Analysts say the path forward depends largely on how both governments handle the next 72 hours. With the Aug. 1 date approaching for previously scheduled bilateral talks, the focus is now on whether dialogue can resume in time to prevent wider violence.
Thai-Cambodian Tensions Thai-Cambodian Tensions Thai-Cambodian Tensions
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