Thailand-Cambodia conflict: Artillery, airstrikes and landmines leave 14 dead, over 100,000 displaced as UN steps in; What we know
The Thai health ministry said the worst incident occurred when a Cambodian rocket struck a petrol station in Sisaket province. A large fire broke out, killing mostly students who were inside an attached convenience store. “There was a gigantic cloud of smoke… I don’t even dare sleep,” said Praphas Intaracheun, a local witness.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin condemned the strikes as deliberate: “We urge the Cambodian government to immediately halt these war criminal actions, and return to respecting the principles of peaceful coexistence.”
Thailand-Cambodia conflict: Thousands displaced as artillery shells homes and hospitals
As the artillery and rockets fell, people on both sides fled. The Thai Interior Ministry reported that 106,672 civilians had been evacuated from four eastern provinces and moved into nearly 300 shelters. Land border crossings were shut, and Thai nationals were told to return home.
In Cambodia, the fear spread just as fast. Families in Oddar Meanchey province loaded up handmade tractors and carts, heading for makeshift camps. In Samraong, around 20 kilometres from the frontier, artillery booms were still audible on Friday. “I live very close to the border. We are scared because they began shooting again at about 6:00 am,” said Pro Bak, who was taking his wife and children to a Buddhist temple for safety. “I don’t know when we could return home.”
Tep Savouen, a mother of four, described the moment she fled: “Suddenly I heard a loud noise. My son told me it might be thunder and I thought ‘Is it thunder or is it loud, more like a gun?’ At that time I was very scared.”
Thailand-Cambodia: Fighting spreads across 12 flashpoints
Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri of the Thai military said the conflict had now spread to 12 separate sites along the frontier. Initial fighting began near Ta Muen Thom, an ancient temple straddling the disputed border. Thai forces claimed six armed Cambodian soldiers were spotted and asked to retreat. When that failed, Thailand said it retaliated with airstrikes using six F-16 fighter jets.Cambodia disputes that version of events. Officials accused Thailand of drone incursions and “unprovoked military aggression.” Cambodia’s Defence Ministry said its response was strictly defensive. “The attacks were focused on the military places, not on any other place,” said Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata.
The Cambodian Culture Ministry also expressed outrage over strikes near Preah Vihear, a UNESCO-listed temple. “The temple was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO… and is a ‘historical legacy of the Cambodian people,’” the ministry said.
Landmines and diplomatic expulsions fuel breakdown
Tensions reached a tipping point on Wednesday when five Thai soldiers were seriously injured by a landmine. Thai officials claimed the mines were recently planted and of Russian make, violating a previously cleared path under a bilateral agreement. They accused Cambodian troops of planting them.
Cambodia rejected the charge outright, calling it “baseless accusations” and blaming leftover ordnance from earlier conflicts. But the damage was done. Thailand expelled Cambodia’s ambassador and recalled its own. Phnom Penh responded by downgrading diplomatic ties to “the lowest level” and ordered Thai diplomats out of the country.
War of words: Mutual accusations of war crimes
Both governments are trading not just bullets, but words. Thailand has accused Cambodia of “inhumane, brutal and war-hungry” actions, pointing to the attack on a hospital and the petrol station strike.
Cambodia hit back with accusations of Thai airstrikes and illegal drone incursions. “It was an act of self-defense,” said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura. Meanwhile, Cambodia maintains that its actions are lawful under international rules of engagement and directed solely at Thai military targets.
Military Posturing and Combat Readiness
Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen made a rare public intervention, warning Thailand not to misjudge Cambodia’s military posture. “Do not boast of your superior military power or think of invading Cambodia,” he said. “Cambodia is fully prepared for combat.”
The Cambodian military has mobilised near the frontier and activated emergency plans. In response, the Thai army reintroduced the Chakrabongse Bhuvanath Plan, a military strategy last used during the 2011 border standoff.
Colonial borders still fuel the fire
This is not a new conflict. The current hostilities trace back to colonial-era maps drawn during French rule in Indochina. Several areas, including land near the Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom temples, remain disputed despite rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The ICJ ruled in Cambodia’s favour in both 1962 and again in 2013, giving Phnom Penh sovereignty over the Preah Vihear site. Thailand has never formally accepted these rulings. Sporadic clashes broke out from 2008 to 2011, killing at least 28 people and displacing tens of thousands. The situation today is strikingly similar.
Global powers call for calm
The international community has responded swiftly. The US, China, France, and the European Union have urged both countries to de-escalate and protect civilians.
“We are particularly alarmed by reports of harm to innocent civilians,” the US Embassy in Bangkok said. “Diplomatic channels must be pursued to prevent further bloodshed.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres joined in, calling on both parties “to exercise maximum restraint and address any issues through dialogue,” according to deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council, which took place behind closed doors in New York. At the same time, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had spoken to both sides in his role as ASEAN chair. “I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward,” he said on Facebook.
Despite these signs, fighting resumed early Friday in at least three areas. Cambodian forces launched new waves of rocket and artillery fire, and Thai troops responded with what they called “appropriate supporting fire.”
With military units now dug in, civilians displaced, and diplomatic ties fractured, there’s no clear end in sight.
(With inputs from Agencies)
