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| Foto:Cambodian forces launching artillery and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) attacks that have reportedly killed at least 11 Thai civilians |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH – July 25, 2025 – A long-simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has escalated into a major military confrontation, with Cambodian forces launching artillery and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) attacks that have reportedly killed at least 11 Thai civilians and wounded dozens more. Thailand has retaliated with airstrikes, deploying F-16 and Gripen fighter jets against Cambodian military targets, marking the most serious escalation in over a decade.
The conflict, rooted in unresolved demarcation of their shared 800-kilometer border, particularly around the ancient Preah Vihear temple and other disputed areas, rapidly intensified over the past 24-48 hours. Weeks of rising tensions, including a skirmish in May that killed a Cambodian soldier and recent landmine incidents injuring Thai personnel, culminated in full-blown hostilities.
According to Thai officials, Cambodian forces initiated the heavy bombardment, striking both military outposts and civilian areas within Thai territory. Reports indicate that a petrol station in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, was hit, accounting for six civilian fatalities. Hospitals and residential homes have also been targeted. The Cambodian military is reported to have used 122-mm Grad and Type 81 MLRS, 107-mm Type 63 launchers, and 130-mm M-46 howitzers, some firing extended-range rounds.
In response to the "war criminal actions," as described by Thailand's Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Thailand's military launched airstrikes, targeting Cambodian rocket and tube artillery positions. The Royal Thai Army also reported continued clashes in at least six areas along the border, with heavy weapons and BM-21 rocket systems being used by Cambodian forces. Mass evacuations of civilians have been ordered in a 50-kilometer zone along the Thai border, citing the range of Cambodian rocket systems.
Diplomatic relations between the two ASEAN member states have collapsed, with Cambodia downgrading ties and recalling its ambassador, and Thailand expelling Cambodia's envoy and sealing all border crossings. This diplomatic breakdown preceded the military escalation, with both sides trading accusations of initiating the violence.
The international community, including the United Nations and ASEAN, has expressed grave concern. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to "exercise maximum restraint and address any issues through dialogue and in a spirit of good neighborliness." Malaysia, as the current ASEAN chair, has called for a ceasefire and offered to mediate, though Cambodia has notably bypassed the regional body by appealing directly to the UN Security Council for an urgent meeting. China has also offered to play a constructive role in promoting peace.
The renewed conflict highlights the precariousness of peace in Southeast Asia and the long-lasting impact of colonial-era border delineations. With both sides heavily armed, particularly Thailand with its superior firepower, the humanitarian cost of this crisis is rapidly mounting, and fears of a wider regional destabilization are growing. As of Friday morning, clashes were reported to be ongoing, and the death toll is feared to rise.