- At least 14 civilians were killed and dozens injured in intense fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, centered on disputed border areas near ancient Hindu temples. Artillery exchanges and Thai airstrikes marked a sharp escalation.
- Violence erupted after a landmine wounded Thai soldiers, leading Thailand to recall its ambassador and expel Cambodia’s envoy. Thailand deployed F-16 jets in “self-defense,” while Cambodia condemned the strikes as aggression and appealed to the UN.
- Six Thai villagers died in a gas station explosion, while others were killed in shelling near evacuation shelters. Over 40,000 Thai civilians were evacuated, some taking refuge in bunkers.
- The dispute traces back to colonial-era maps and a 1962 ICJ ruling granting Cambodia the Preah Vihear temple. Tensions flared again in 2008 over UNESCO status and worsened after a May skirmish killed a Cambodian soldier.
- The U.S. urged de-escalation, while China offered mediation. The UNSC scheduled emergency talks, but Thailand rejected arbitration. With both sides mobilizing forces, displaced civilians remain stranded amid ongoing hostilities.
At least 14 civilians were killed and dozens wounded as Thailand and Cambodia engaged in their deadliest military clashes in over a decade, which began Thursday, July 24.
The fighting centered on contested terrain near ancient Hindu temples along the 500-mile border, where sovereignty has been disputed since colonial-era maps were drawn in 1907. Artillery exchanges and Thai airstrikes marked a sharp escalation in the long-running border dispute.
The violence erupted after a landmine explosion wounded five Thai soldiers, prompting Bangkok to recall its ambassador and expel Cambodia’s envoy. This diplomatic breakdown swiftly spiraled into open combat.
Thailand deployed F-16 jets in what it called “self-defense” airstrikes after accusing Phnom Penh of firing rockets into its territory. Cambodia, meanwhile, condemned Bangkok’s actions as “brutal military aggression” and appealed to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for intervention. (Related: Almost a thousand Indian and Chinese troops engage in fresh clashes along disputed border.)
The clashes, unusually intense for two members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, left civilians caught in the crossfire. Six Thai villagers died in a gas station explosion in Si Sa Ket Province, while others perished in shelling near evacuation shelters.
“I heard a loud noise. My son told me it might be thunder,” said 45-year-old Tep Savouen, a Cambodian mother of four who fled her village. “At that time, I was very scared.”
Thailand and Cambodia’s deadly clash over ancient temple
Historical grievances underpin the conflict. The International Court of Justice awarded Cambodia the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple in 1962, but Thailand has resisted its jurisdiction over other disputed zones.
Tensions flared again in 2008 when Cambodia sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the temple, triggering sporadic skirmishes. The current crisis deepened after a May skirmish killed a Cambodian soldier.
Moreover, leaked phone calls revealed Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister (PM) Paetongtarn Shinawatra criticizing her own military while cozying up to Cambodia’s former strongman Hun Sen. Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck were former Thai PMs, while Sen is the father of incumbent Cambodian PM Hun Manet.
Both nations traded blame Thursday. Thailand’s health minister accused Cambodia of “war crimes” for shelling a hospital, while Cambodia insisted it acted in self-defense.
Over 40,000 Thai civilians were evacuated, some huddled in concrete bunkers as artillery boomed. The U.S. urged an immediate ceasefire, while China – a key ally of Phnom Penh – offered to mediate.
By nightfall, the UNSC scheduled emergency talks. But with Bangkok rejecting international arbitration and both sides mobilizing forces, hopes for de-escalation dimmed. For now, displaced families remain in limbo – their homes just another casualty in a conflict where history, pride and territory remain violently entwined.
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Sources include:
TheEpochTimes.com
Reuters.com
APNews.com
Brighteon.com
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