Crossfire and Condemnation: Thailand and Cambodia Locked in Deadly Border Conflict

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Crossfire and Condemnation: Thailand and Cambodia Locked in Deadly Border Conflict

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – July 25, 2025 – Tensions along the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia have erupted into full-blown armed conflict, marking a dramatic and deadly escalation of a decades-old territorial dispute.1 As of Friday, July 25, 2025, reports indicate ongoing exchanges of heavy fire, including artillery, rockets, and even airstrikes, with both nations blaming each other for initiating the hostilities that have claimed civilian lives and forced widespread evacuations.2

The immediate trigger for this alarming escalation appears to be a landmine explosion earlier this week that severely injured Thai soldiers. Thailand swiftly responded by recalling its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expelling Cambodia's envoy, citing alleged newly laid landmines by Cambodia – an accusation vehemently denied by Phnom Penh, which asserts the explosion occurred on its territory due to leftover ordnance from past conflicts.3

However, diplomatic protests quickly spiraled into full-scale military engagements. On Thursday, July 24, clashes ignited near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, a long-standing flashpoint.4 Thailand reported that Cambodian forces initiated fire, followed by exchanges across at least six locations along the extensive 800-kilometer border.5 The Royal Thai Air Force deployed F-16 fighter jets, conducting airstrikes on what it described as Cambodian military targets.6

Cambodia, in turn, has condemned Thailand's actions as "brutal and illegal military aggression," with Prime Minister Hun Manet stating his nation had "no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression."7 Hun Manet has formally requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address the escalating situation.8 Reports from Thailand indicate at least 11 civilians and one soldier have been killed by Cambodian shelling, with dozens more injured, prompting accusations of war crimes from Thai officials.9 Civilian populations on both sides are being evacuated from the affected border regions.

The root of this persistent animosity lies in the ill-defined border drawn during the French colonial era, particularly around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.10 While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013 that the temple itself belongs to Cambodia, the precise demarcation of the surrounding areas remains fiercely contested.11 Temples like Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai have also become symbols of national pride and points of contention.12

The renewed conflict also highlights underlying political dynamics in Thailand, with the crisis contributing to the recent suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amid an ethics probe related to a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.13 This has led to speculation about the Thai military asserting greater independence in its foreign policy.

The rapid deterioration of relations, including the downgrading of diplomatic ties and mutual border closures, poses a significant challenge to regional stability and the unity of ASEAN, of which both nations are key members.14 As artillery shells once again fall around the ancient temples, the international community watches with growing concern, urging restraint and a return to diplomatic solutions to prevent further bloodshed in this historically volatile region.15

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