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Thailand and Cambodia are currently experiencing their fiercest clashes in over ten years, exchanging heavy artillery across their contested border. At least 16 individuals have been killed, and tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes.
Hostilities intensified in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire. Since then, tensions have escalated steadily, leading to diplomatic disagreements and active military confrontations.
Clashes began early Thursday near an area adjacent to an ancient temple, swiftly spreading along the disputed border. Heavy artillery exchanges persisted into the second day. Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia’s envoy after a Thai soldier lost a limb due to a landmine, which Bangkok claims was recently planted by Cambodian forces. Cambodia denied the accusation.
Both nations accuse each other of initiating the violence; so far, at least 15 civilians have died, most on the Thai side. Cambodia has deployed truck-mounted rocket launchers, which Thailand alleges have targeted civilian zones, while Thailand has dispatched F-16 fighter jets to strike military positions across the border.
Approximately 130,000 residents in Thailand’s border regions have been evacuated to safer locations, and around 12,000 families on the Cambodian side have also been relocated away from the conflict zones.
The origins of their long-standing dispute trace back over a century. The 817 km land border was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was under colonial rule. That map, which Thailand challenged, was based on an agreement to demarcate the border along the natural watershed. While in 2000 both countries agreed to form a Joint Boundary Commission to resolve overlapping claims peacefully, progress has been limited.
Historical disputes over heritage sites have fueled nationalist sentiments. Notably, in 2003, riots erupted in Phnom Penh after a Thai celebrity made remarks questioning Cambodia’s claim over Angkor Wat, leading to the torching of the Thai embassy and businesses.
A longstanding flashpoint is the Hindu temple Preah Vihear, claimed by both countries. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand continued to assert claims to the surrounding area. Tensions intensified again in 2008 when Cambodia sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the site, resulting in several years of skirmishes, including a deadly weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011. The ICJ reaffirmed Cambodia’s claim in 2013, ordering Thai troops to withdraw from the vicinity.
Despite historical rivalries, current government relations remain outwardly friendly, partly due to ties between influential former leaders of both nations. However, rising nationalist sentiments in Thailand, fueled by conservative critics’ objections to joint resource exploration talks with Cambodia, have heightened tensions. Additionally, incidents like Cambodian nationals singing their national anthem at disputed temples and controversial diplomatic exchanges, such as a leaked phone call involving Thailand’s prime minister, have contributed to the volatile atmosphere.
In response to recent clashes, both countries pledged to pursue dialogue and de-escalation. Cambodia has sought international intervention by contacting the UN Security Council, accusing Thailand of unprovoked aggression, while Thailand insists they seek bilateral solutions and only after cessation of violence. Meanwhile, both nations continue to mobilize troops near the border amidst ongoing tensions.
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