A significant increase in hostilities between Thai and Cambodian military forces has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals and the displacement of more than 100,000 civilians, as reported by Thai officials.
The conflict, which involves small arms, rockets, artillery, and airstrikes, began on Thursday and has been escalating along the long-contested border, continuing into Friday. This marks the most severe confrontation between the two Southeast Asian nations in over a decade, according to reports from AP.
Mass evacuations and casualties amid cross-border shelling.
The Thai Interior Ministry indicated that the fighting has impacted four provinces and has mandated the evacuation of civilians residing within 50 kilometers of the border. The ministry reported that 167,200 individuals from four border provinces have been relocated to shelters, while the health ministry confirmed that the death toll has risen to fourteen.
In Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodian families fled from the border, many transporting their possessions on homemade tractors before settling in temporary camps. “Suddenly I heard a loud noise,” recounted 45-year-old mother of four, Tep Savouen, as quoted by AP. “My son suggested it might be thunder, and I wondered, ‘Is it thunder or is it something louder, like a gun?’ At that moment, I was extremely frightened.”
In Bangkok, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin verified 14 fatalities, including 13 civilians and one soldier, along with 46 injuries. He denounced what he characterized as Cambodian assaults on civilians and a hospital: “We call upon the Cambodian government to immediately cease these war crimes and return to honoring the principles of peaceful coexistence.
Blame game and diplomatic breakdown
The violence ensued following a landmine explosion on Wednesday that injured five Thai soldiers — an event that led to the expulsion of ambassadors from both nations and resulted in significant diplomatic repercussions. Thai officials accused Cambodia of deploying new Russian-manufactured mines, while Cambodia refuted these allegations as “unfounded accusations,” attributing the situation to leftover munitions from previous conflicts.
On Thursday, confrontations erupted in at least six locations along the border, including near the historic Ta Muen Thom temple. Thai F-16 fighter jets executed airstrikes in retaliation for what the government described as Cambodian truck-mounted rockets. “It was an act of self-defense,” stated Nikorndej Balankura, spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry asserted that the airstrikes targeted a road close to Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and pledged to pursue legal action. “The temple was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO… and represents a ‘historical legacy of the Cambodian people,’” remarked Cambodia’s Culture Ministry.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata emphasized that Cambodia had “no option but to protect its territory against Thai threats,” maintaining that the strikes were “aimed at military locations, not at any other sites.”
International alarm and domestic fallout
The conflict has generated immediate international concern. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on both parties “to exercise maximum restraint and resolve any issues through dialogue,” as stated by deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council, which took place behind closed doors in New York on Friday.
Thailand has closed all land border crossings and has advised its citizens to evacuate Cambodia. All seven Thai airlines have offered assistance in repatriating Thai nationals.
In the meantime, the conflict has intensified pressure on Thailand’s domestic politics. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended on July 1 due to an ethics investigation related to her management of a phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is currently spearheading the response, cautioning Cambodia against any further acts of aggression.
