Thailand and Cambodia Conflict: The air along the old, disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia now fills with the frightening sounds of big guns and fighter jets. This shows how an old disagreement has suddenly turned into a full-blown fight. What started with a single landmine has quickly become the worst clash in over ten years. At least 11 Thai people have died, and the two countries are barely speaking. Even ancient temples like Preah Vihear are again caught in the middle of a modern war, putting peace in the area at risk and making thousands of people homeless.
The Start of the Fight: Deadly Clashes Begin
On July 24, 2025, the fragile peace completely broke. Heavy shooting, including big guns and attacks by Thai F-16 fighter jets, hit areas around the Ta Muen and Ta Moan Thom temples – old places both countries say belong to them.
- People Hurt: Sad reports confirm that at least 11 Thai people and one Thai soldier have been killed, with many more injured. A Thai hospital was even hit by Cambodian artillery, a scary event that shows how random and widespread the violence is along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
- Mass Evacuations: People living in towns along the 800-kilometer border quickly left their homes. About 40,000 Thai and 5,000 Cambodian people ran to safety, showing how quickly and badly local people were affected.
- Weapons Used: Both sides have confirmed they are using heavy weapons. Thailand sent F-16 fighter jets to attack what it says were Cambodian military groups, while Cambodia says Thai jets dropped bombs on its land.
Both Bangkok (Thailand’s capital) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia’s capital) are blaming each other. Thailand says new, Russian-made landmines started it all, hurting five of its soldiers. Cambodia strongly denies this, saying the blast came from old bombs left over from past fights, and accuses Thailand of “brutal and illegal military attacks.” This back-and-forth blaming has pushed talks between the two countries to a breaking point, making the Thailand and Cambodia war worse.
Broken Talks: Relations Hit Rock Bottom
The increasing violence has caused talks between the two countries to completely stop, showing a dangerous step up beyond simple border fights in the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border dispute.
- Sending Away and Calling Back: In a clear sign of how bad relations are, Thailand sent away Cambodia’s ambassador. In return, Cambodia lowered its diplomatic relations to their “lowest level” and called back most of its staff from its embassy in Bangkok.
- Border Closures: All border crossings between Thailand and Cambodia are now shut. This paints a grim picture of broken connections and major problems for trade and daily life for many. Thailand has also told its citizens to leave Cambodia, showing how serious the situation is.
- Money Matters: Cambodia has also announced tough economic steps, banning imports of Thai fruits, vegetables, electricity, internet services, and even popular Thai TV shows. This shows how the broken talks are affecting money and trade.
Old Problems: The Story of Preah Vihear Temple
The reasons for this bitter border disagreement go very deep, going back more than a hundred years to unclear old maps drawn by French mapmakers. The confusion in these old documents has kept tensions high.
Why Preah Vihear Temple Matters So Much
The Preah Vihear temple, an 11th-century Hindu marvel sitting high on a cliff, has always been a key point of disagreement in the Cambodia-Thailand relationship. While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided in 1962, and again in 2013, that the temple itself belongs to Cambodia, Thailand still argues about who owns the land around it.
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This ongoing disagreement has led to many small fights over the years. The current fight, which many call the Cambodia and Thailand war, goes beyond Preah Vihear to an area called the “Emerald Triangle,” where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos meet. This makes it even harder to find peace and keep the region stable.
Inside Problems: Political Trouble and Military Growth
Inside Thailand, the crisis has caused big political problems. At the same time, Cambodia is now strongly changing its army plans because of the growing Thailand vs Cambodia fighting.
- Thai Political Trouble: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from her job earlier in July because of an investigation into her ethics. This came from a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, where she supposedly criticized the Thai army’s handling of the border situation. This internal chaos has weakened her Pheu Thai-led government, with a key partner leaving her side and a vote of no confidence now likely in the Thai parliament. This adds another layer of trouble to the Thailand news.
- Cambodia’s Army Plan: For Cambodia, the immediate response to the rising tensions has been to make its army much stronger. Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that the country will bring back its mandatory military draft law, starting in 2026. This move is directly tied to the need for a stronger army because of the ongoing problems with Thailand. Under this new rule, all Cambodian men aged 18-30 will have to join the army, showing a serious and official effort to protect the country amidst the possibility of a longer Thailand Cambodia war.
World Calls for Peace: A Way Forward
Global calls for peace echo across the Thailand-Cambodia border as fighting continues, causing immense human suffering, displacement, and economic disruption. This painful conflict highlights how unresolved old problems can lead to terrible outcomes. Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj, an Indian spiritual leader, consistently teaches that fighting can never solve problems.
He emphasizes that we are all brothers and sisters, and proves from scriptures that the true purpose of human life is to reach God and attain Satlok, not to engage in conflict. He strongly states that killing innocent people is a sin. You can learn more about his teachings by reading his book, ‘Way of Living’.
FAQs on Thailand and Cambodia Conflict
- What caused the recent increase in fighting between Thailand and Cambodia?
The immediate cause of the recent deadly clashes was a landmine explosion on July 23 that hurt five Thai soldiers. Thailand claims Cambodia planted new, Russian-made mines, but Cambodia denies this, saying the blast was from old, unexploded bombs from past conflicts. This event quickly led to heavy shooting and air attacks, making the Thailand Cambodia war worse. - Where are the main areas of fighting?
The main areas of fighting are along the disputed border, especially near the old Ta Muen and Ta Moan Thom temples. The conflict also includes the larger “Emerald Triangle” area, where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos meet. This is a key zone in the Thailand Cambodia border dispute. - How has the fighting affected talks between Thailand and Cambodia?
Talks between the two countries have completely broken down. Thailand has sent Cambodia’s ambassador away, and Cambodia has responded by lowering its diplomatic ties to their “lowest level” and calling back most of its embassy staff from Bangkok. Thailand has also closed all border crossings, showing how serious the Cambodia Thailand situation is. - Why is the Preah Vihear temple important in this border problem?
The Preah Vihear temple, an 11th-century Hindu temple on a cliff, is a very old and key point of disagreement. Even though the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 and again in 2013 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, Thailand still argues about who owns the land around it. This ongoing disagreement causes repeated tensions and fights, which is a main part of the Cambodia-Thailand war.
What is Cambodia’s big new plan for its military because of the fighting?
Because of the growing tensions, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that the country will bring back its mandatory military draft law starting in 2026. This means all Cambodian men aged 18-30 will have to join the military for 18-24 months. This shows a clear step to make its army stronger due to the ongoing problems with Thailand.
