On July 24, the Thai and Cambodian armies clashed violently, with Thailand even deploying F-16 fighter jets. This conflict is the most serious military confrontation between the two countries in recent years, and the bilateral diplomatic relations have deteriorated, with a large number of border residents evacuated. TVBS News Network has specially compiled the latest news on the Thai-Cambodian border, the historical context of the conflict, and the responses of Thai and Cambodian leaders.

7/25   Second day of Thai-Cambodian conflict  Artillery fire at the border again in the early morning, causing many deaths

 As of the 25th, 16 Thais had died and 46 others were injured (including 14 soldiers). 24 Cambodian soldiers had died, a total of 40 deaths, and a total of 120,000 people from both sides fled the border.

At 04:30 on the morning of the 25th, the Cambodian army first opened fire on the Thai side, causing the border situation to become tense again. The Cambodian troops approached the Thai defense line in the early morning and then opened fire first. The Thai army immediately used ATMG 155mm domestic artillery to launch a counterattack, targeting the Cambodian base where the BM-21 rocket launcher was launched and fiercely bombarded. It is said that the Cambodian base has been destroyed. The Thai military fan page reported that Cambodia used 15 tanks as a shooting base, and the two sides frequently exchanged fire.

7/24  The first day of the Thai-Cambodian conflict   14 people have been killed

The two sides clashed in the disputed border area in the early morning, starting in the Ta Muen Thom area on the border between Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province, Thailand and Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia, and then spread to Sisaket Province and Ubon Ratchathani Province. However, both sides have different opinions on who started it first.

Cambodia said that the Thai army entered Cambodian territory without authorization at 6:30 a.m., released drone reconnaissance at 7:04 a.m., began firing at the Cambodian army at 8:30 a.m., and expanded the scope of the attack to another ancient temple, the"Skull Mountain" area and the "Triangle Area" by 8:46 a.m., forcing the Cambodian army to launch a self-defense counterattack.

The Thai army said that at 7:35 a.m., they heard a Cambodian drone hovering in front of the ruins of the Great Mu Temple. Cambodia then deployed personnel to the front line of the barbed wire, and a total of 6 people equipped with rocket launchers advanced to the front line. Afterwards, the Cambodian side opened fire on the Thai military base near the ruins of the Great Mu Temple, and continued to fire BM-21 multiple rockets at the temple ruins. It also opened fire on civilian houses near the border, and many civilians were injured in Surin Province and Sisaket Province. The Thai side retaliated and dispatched Air Force F-16 fighter jets at 10:58 a.m. to destroy two Cambodian military facilities. Thailand has now urgently evacuated more than 40,000 residents from the border.

The Thai Ministry of Health said on the 24th that the conflict on that day caused the deaths of 14 Thais, including 13 civilians and 1 soldier. In addition to announcing the complete closure of border checkpoints bordering Cambodia, Thailand also proactively requested negotiations with Cambodia to seek to ease the current situation.

On the morning of July 24, 2025, Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire in the disputed border area, mainly starting from the border between Surin Province, Thailand and Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia, and expanding to other areas. The war was caused by the sovereignty dispute of the"Emerald Triangle". Thailand dispatched 6 F-16 fighter jets to bomb 2 Cambodian command posts, while Cambodia used BM-21 rocket launchers to bomb civilian areas. According to the Royal Thai Army and the Ministry of Health, the death toll in Thailand has climbed to 14, including 1 soldier and 13 civilians. About 40,000 residents were evacuated to shelters.

But the two sides have different opinions on who fired first. The Thai army said that Cambodia deployed a reconnaissance drone and armed soldiers approached the Thai guard post and opened fire first. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense spokesman counter-accused that the Thai army launched an armed attack on the Cambodian army first and the Cambodian army was exercising its legitimate right of self-defense.

In fact, before the exchange of fire on the 24th, the conflict on the border had already shown signs of escalating. Thai Acting Prime Minister Wijayachai said on the 23rd that Thai soldiers stepped on landmines newly planted by Cambodia twice while patrolling the border, causing many injuries and even one person's right leg being blown off.

The two countries had already been involved in a diplomatic storm over a landmine incident one day before the conflict broke out. Thailand has recalled its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled the Cambodian ambassador, downgrading diplomatic relations with Cambodia. In response, the Cambodian government has decided to downgrade diplomatic relations between the two countries to the lowest level and ordered the recall of all diplomats in Bangkok.

As the situation escalates, the content of the phone call between former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian Prime Minister and current Senate President Hun Sen was leaked earlier. Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters that the situation is very sensitive and must be handled with caution and in accordance with international law.

Hun Sen posted on social media on the 24th that the border areas of Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces were bombarded by Thailand. Hun Sen said that Thai soldiers began to attack the Cambodian army and the Cambodian army had no choice but to fight back. But he also urged the public not to panic and hoard goods, and called on merchants not to raise commodity prices.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet also said on the 24th that the Cambodian government will actively defend national sovereignty in military and diplomatic aspects and provide assistance to affected citizens. In addition, he also announced earlier this month that the conscription system will be restored from 2026, showing the intention to strengthen the military.

The 817-kilometer-long Thai-Cambodian border was mostly drawn during the French colonial period in Cambodia in the early 20th century. Military disputes have frequently occurred over the past century, becoming a source of political tension.

This dispute is rooted in the sovereignty dispute of the"Emerald Triangle", which is the border between Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. It has many ancient temple sites and is an overlapping territory that has been disputed for many years. On May 28, 2025, the Thai and Cambodian militaries had a brief conflict in the Chong Bok area on the border, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier. Since then, bilateral relations have once again fallen to the bottom.

This conflict will not only exacerbate nationalist sentiment, but may also affect the stability of Southeast Asia. Although the two countries have a history of cooperation in combating crime, border issues have repeatedly become a political tool.

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