Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into violent conflict on July 24, 2025, as troops exchanged fire near the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple along their northeastern border. The clash marks the most serious escalation in a decades-long territorial dispute over the Emerald Triangle, a geopolitically sensitive region where the borders of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos converge.
Thai forces reported detecting a Cambodian drone near Ta Muen temple around 7:35 AM, followed by six armed Cambodian soldiers approaching a Thai post.
Cambodia allegedly launched BM-21 rocket attacks, striking civilian areas in Thailand’s Surin province, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring 14 others.
Thailand retaliated with F-16 airstrikes targeting Cambodian military positions near Preah Vihear temple, escalating the conflict across six border zones.
Both nations expelled each other’s ambassadors and closed border crossings, effectively severing diplomatic ties.
Thailand condemned Cambodia’s actions as “inhumane and brutal,” while Cambodia accused Thailand of violating its sovereignty.
The disputed temples—Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear—have long been flashpoints, with previous clashes in 2010 and May 2025. The region is rich in cultural heritage but fraught with unresolved border demarcations dating back over a century.
Thousands of Thai civilians have been evacuated from border villages.
A Thai hospital in Surin was reportedly targeted by Cambodian artillery, prompting school closures and emergency responses.
Thailand expelled Cambodia’s ambassador over a landmine blast that wounded five Thai troops. Cambodia recalled its diplomats, leaving just one official in Bangkok. Thailand warned its citizens: “Get out of Cambodia NOW.”
The Emerald Triangle—where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos meet—has been a tinderbox for decades, flaring up in 2011 with 28 dead near Preah Vihear Temple.
Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra is already in hot water over a leaked call with Cambodia’s ex-leader Hun Sen. Now, she’s under fire for the military escalation.
Last week, PM Hun Manet suddenly revived military drafts—was he preparing for this?
Will regional powers step in before this explodes into full-scale war? If Cambodia’s rockets keep flying, Thailand vows heavier airstrikes. Families are fleeing border villages as shells keep falling.