Ta Muen Thom, Cambodia–Thailand Border | 24 July 2025
Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand escalated into open conflict on 24 July 2025, after Thai troops reportedly opened fire near the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple in Oddar Meanchey province, sparking a deadly exchange that left multiple civilians and soldiers dead on both sides.
According to the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, the Thai military initiated the confrontation by firing at Cambodian soldiers patrolling within Cambodia’s internationally recognized territory. Cambodia claimed the Thai side had been installing barbed wire fences near the temple—an act seen as a violation of Cambodian sovereignty. Cambodian troops responded in self-defense after being attacked without provocation.
The clash quickly intensified, with reports of Thai airstrikes by F-16 fighter jets targeting Cambodian military sites, while Cambodian forces retaliated with artillery and rocket fire. At least 12 people were reported killed in Thailand, mostly civilians, and thousands were displaced on both sides of the border. Cambodia has confirmed one civilian fatality and multiple injuries in the affected areas.
Cambodia condemned the attack as a deliberate breach of peace and filed an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council for intervention. Prime Minister Hun Manet declared the incident a “blatant act of aggression” and called on ASEAN to help de-escalate the situation through diplomatic channels.
All border crossings in northeastern Thailand were closed following the conflict, and both nations have since expelled each other’s ambassadors. Cambodian communities near the border, especially in Oddar Meanchey, have begun emergency evacuations.
This incident marks one of the most serious escalations between the two neighbors since the 2011 Preah Vihear clashes. The international community, including the United States, China, and regional allies, has urged both nations to exercise restraint and seek immediate dialogue to avoid a prolonged conflict.
