Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia rose steeply on Friday as fatal fighting along the contested border area killed at least 16 individuals, including one Thai soldier. The fighting, which began near the centuries-old temple of Prasat Ta Muen Thom, witnessed both countries firing artillery shells and exchanging accusations, fueling concerns of an imminent war.
The clashes have already sent more than 138,000 people fleeing in Thailand, the nation’s health ministry said, adding that 14 civilians were killed and one soldier died. Forty-six others, including 15 soldiers, were wounded in the violence.
Cross-Border Strikes and Accusations
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai cautioned that the situation would “develop into war” if it wasn’t addressed. “The current situation encompasses acts of intrusion and aggression that are inflicting damage to people’s lives. The situation has heightened and has the potential to escalate into a state of war,” he said.
He blamed Cambodia for coordinated attacks on several fronts with heavy artillery, including Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, and attacking civilian targets such as schools and hospitals.
Fighting along the border between Cambodia and Thailand continues into the night, as footage shows what appears to be a RM-70 Multiple-Launch Rocket System (MLRS) with the Royal Cambodian Army firing against targets in Thailand. pic.twitter.com/OUhiTHEuP0
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 24, 2025
“Those appalling acts have senselessly taken lives and caused injuries to many innocent civilians,” the Thai military stated, referring to the assaults as “appalling.” They also blamed Cambodia for war crimes, “The intentional targeting of civilians is a war crime, and the perpetrators should be brought to justice.”
Cambodia’s Response
Cambodian authorities blamed Thailand for starting the violence and claimed that Thai troops had employed cluster bombs, prohibited in most nations, to attack them.
Meth Meas Pheakdey, a representative of Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, confirmed the killing of one Cambodian civilian and the wounding of five others. Cambodia’s Royal Army has also been attacked, with footage shared of soldiers hiding from Thai artillery shells in residential districts.
Military Engagement Intensifies
Ground footage showed the deployment of major military machinery, including an M758 Autonomous Truck-Mounted Gun (ATMG) used by the Royal Thai Army in firing 155mm shells into the Cambodian border. Cambodia struck back with an RM-70 Multiple-Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
Footage shows a M758 Autonomous Truck-Mounted Gun (ATMG) with the Royal Thai Army firing 155mm shells earlier this morning towards positions of the Cambodian Army. pic.twitter.com/UXP0VntSXJ
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 25, 2025
The contested location, Prasat Ta Muen Thom, is an old temple both countries claim as their territory. It is not the first time that it has been the focus of armed clashes, but the current escalation is the worst since a Cambodian soldier was killed in May.
Diplomatic Fallout and UN Involvement
During the fighting, both Cambodia and Thailand have ejected each other’s ambassadors, all but extinguishing hopes of a diplomatic solution. The United Nations Security Council has called an emergency meeting to tackle the crisis, with world powers calling on both sides to stop fighting and start talking.
The political background further adds to the complicating factors. Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia’s ousted premier Hun Sen—both still influential in the shadows—traded scathing messages on social media.
Thaksin said that Hun Sen “had to be taught a lesson,” leading Sen to call on Thailand for military aggression. The political enmity between their children, who are both serving as prime ministers, adds fuel to the fire. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of Thaksin, has been put on hold in her office after she was heard on a leaked phone call with Sen, which led to more furore in Thailand.
