Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said on Friday that the fighting at the border “could turn into a war.”
Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025 have reignited long-standing disputes along their shared border. There are clashes near key military zones, which have raised concerns in the region and beyond. At least 32 people have died, and tens of thousands have had to leave their homes. Both sides are using heavy weapons near their disputed border, and more than 130 people have been hurt.
Let’s dive into the article to find out what you need to know about the situation.
What Is The Reason Behind Clashes?
Cambodia and Thailand have a border problem, just like many other countries, which started a long time ago, with confusion from a 1904 treaty made between France and Thailand. The division of borders was not clear in some areas.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said that Cambodia owns the Preah Vihear Temple. However, the land around the temple was still in dispute. Between 2008 and 2011, fights broke out several times, and both soldiers and civilians died. National pride in both countries made things worse.
In 2011, the ICJ passed the issue to AESAN, a group of Southeast Asian countries, but talks stopped when Thailand did not allow international observers anymore. Cambodia went back to the ICJ, but Thailand said that only the countries together could settle the border.
2025 Clashes: Who Fired First?
Tensions have been high in this area for weeks. The fight started on Thursday morning near the old Prasat Ta Moan Thom Temple in Thailand’s Surin province, which is close to the border with Cambodia.
A Thai military official said that battles broke out in 12 different places along the disputed border. On Friday, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri told reporters that Cambodia used heavy weapons during the attacks.
It is still unclear who started the shooting, as both countries blame each other. The Thai army said Cambodian soldiers tried to provoke them. According to the Thai military, Cambodia sent a drone around 7:35 am, and then soldiers with rocket launchers came near a Thai post. They said Cambodian forces then fired toward the eastern side of the temple, about 200 meters from the Thai base, and even attacked a nearby village with rockets.
In response, the Thai army said it launched airstrikes, including six F-16 fighter jets that hit targets in Cambodia and destroyed two military sites.
Cambodia denied firing first. Its defense officials said they only responded after Thailand launched an attack on their troops. Cambodian spokesperson Maly Socheata said Thailand had violated their land and that Cambodia was only protecting its borders after Thai fighter jets dropped two bombs on a road.
How Many Casualties Have There Been?
Cambodian officials say that 12 more people have died in the ongoing border fight with Thailand, bringing the total number of deaths to 32 on both sides.
On Saturday, Cambodian defense spokesperson Maly Socheata said that seven civilians and five soldiers were confirmed dead. One man had already been reported killed on Thursday when a Thai rocket hit a Buddhist pagoda where he was hiding. At least 50 other Cambodian civilians and more than 20 soldiers have been hurt.
Thailand says that in the last two days, 13 civilians, including children, and six soldiers have been killed. Another 29 Thai soldiers and 30 civilians were also injured in Cambodian attacks.
Cambodia’s newspaper, The Khmer Times, said that about 20,000 people have been moved from the northern border area of Preah Vihear province for safety.
On the Thai side, more than 138,000 people have been evacuated from border areas, and around 300 emergency shelters have been set up. Thailand also declared martial law on Friday in eight districts near the border.
Cease Fire After Days Of Fighting
After help from Malaysia, which is the current chair of ASEAN, the United States, and China, leaders from Cambodia and Thailand agreed to stop fighting. They met in Putrajaya, Malaysia, and decided to reopen direct talks and set up a plan to keep the peace. A ceasefire officially began at midnight on Monday, ending the worst conflict between the two countries in over 10 years.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called the agreement “an important first step” toward peace and safety. He spoke at a press conference after more than two hours of talks with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand at his home.
The peace deal happened after strong efforts by Anwar and phone calls from U.S. President Donald Trump, who told both countries he wouldn’t sign trade deals with them if the fighting continued. Both nations currently face a 36% tariff on their goods in the U.S., their biggest export market.
FAQs
Q1: Who is Cambodia fighting with?
Ans: Cambodia is fighting with Thailand, and they exploded into a deadly battle at the border last Thursday.
Q2: Why is Thailand bombing Cambodia?
Ans: Thailand’s acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Cambodia had launched attacks on multiple fronts and that Thailand was defending its territory against “acts of intrusion and aggression that are causing harm to the people’s lives.”
Conclusion
The unresolved issues from the past have turned deadly in the present, as 30 people were killed, hundreds were injured, and more than 300,000 were displaced. But now, due to international pressure and mediation, both sides have agreed to a ceasefire and resumed talks.
