A new conflict has erupted in Southeast Asia, as tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into open warfare on Thursday. Thailand initiated airstrikes on Cambodian military targets, prompting a swift retaliation from Cambodia with rocket and artillery attacks.
At the heart of the dispute is a long-contested border region between the two nations. The situation quickly deteriorated, with foreign media reporting at least 12 Thai civilians killed in Cambodia’s rocket attacks. Over 40,000 people have been evacuated from 86 villages in Thailand’s Surin province due to the ongoing clashes.
Cambodia has been accused of targeting a Thai village with rockets and attacking a hospital, while Thailand has carried out air raids against Cambodian military positions. In response to the escalating hostilities, Thailand has closed its entire border with Cambodia, withdrawn its ambassador from Phnom Penh, and declared the Cambodian ambassador in Bangkok persona non grata. Thai authorities also vowed to “intensify self-defense measures.”
The most intense clashes occurred near the historic Ta Moan Thom temple, located on the eastern border roughly 360 kilometers from Bangkok. The outbreak of violence marks the most serious confrontation since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed during a border skirmish. Tensions have risen sharply in recent weeks, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of planting landmines in the disputed area—an incident that reportedly injured three Thai soldiers.
Efforts to de-escalate the situation appear to have backfired. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s recent phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen aimed at reducing tensions triggered a political uproar in Thailand, resulting in her suspension by a domestic court.
The international community has not yet issued a formal response, but concerns are mounting over the potential for a broader regional crisis.
