An extended-running border dispute erupted into intense combating with jets, artillery, tanks and floor troops on Thursday (July 24, 2025), prompting the U.N. Security Council to carry an emergency assembly on the disaster Friday (July 25, 2025).
“Cambodia requested for an instantaneous ceasefire — unconditionally — and we additionally name for the peaceable answer of the dispute,” mentioned Phnom Penh’s U.N. ambassador Chhea Keo following a closed assembly of the Council attended by Cambodia and Thailand.
A gentle thump of artillery strikes might be heard from the Cambodian facet of the border Friday (July 25, 2025), the place the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian a 70-year-old man — had been killed and 5 extra wounded.
More than 138,000 individuals have been evacuated from Thailand’s border areas, its Health Ministry mentioned, reporting 15 fatalities — 14 civilians and a soldier — with an extra 46 wounded, together with 15 troops.
Fighting resumed in three areas round 4 a.m. on Friday (July 25, 2025) (2100 GMT Thursday), the Thai military mentioned, with Cambodian forces firing heavy weapons, subject artillery, and BM-21 rocket techniques, and Thai troops responding “with acceptable supporting fireplace.”
Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nikorndej Balankura informed AFP that combating had begun to ease off by Friday (July 25, 2025) afternoon, nevertheless, including that Bangkok was open to talks, probably aided by Malaysia.
“We are prepared, if Cambodia want to settle this matter through diplomatic channels, bilaterally, and even via Malaysia, we’re prepared to do this. But thus far we’ve got not had any response,” Mr. Nikorndej informed AFP, talking earlier than the U.N. assembly had been held.
Malaysia presently holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are each members.
Earlier, appearing Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had warned that if the state of affairs escalated, “it may grow to be conflict.”
“For now, it stays restricted to clashes,” he informed reporters in Bangkok.
Ongoing dispute
Both sides blamed one another for firing first, whereas Thailand accused Cambodia of focusing on civilian infrastructure, together with a hospital hit by shells and a petroleum station hit by at the least one rocket.
At the U.N., Cambodia’s envoy questioned Thailand’s assertion that his nation, which is smaller and fewer militarily developed than its neighbor, had initiated the battle.
“(The Security Council) referred to as for each events to (present) most restraint and resort to a diplomatic answer. That is what we’re calling for as properly,” mentioned Mr. Chhea.
None of the opposite attendees of the UNSC assembly spoke to reporters.
The combating marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbors — each well-liked locations for hundreds of thousands of overseas vacationers — over their shared 800-kilometer (500-mile) border.
Dozens of kilometers in a number of areas are contested and combating broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at the least 28 individuals lifeless and tens of 1000’s displaced.
A U.N. court docket ruling in 2013 settled the matter for over a decade, however the present disaster erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a brand new conflict.
‘We are scared’
Fighting on Thursday (July 24, 2025) was centered on six places, in response to the Thai military, together with round two historic temples.
Ground troops backed up by tanks battled for management of territory, whereas Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand and the Thais scrambled F-16 jets to hit navy targets throughout the border.
In the Cambodian city of Samraong, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the border, AFP journalists noticed households dashing away in autos with their kids and belongings as gunfire erupted.
“I reside very near the border. We are scared,” Pro Bak, 41, informed AFP.
He was taking his spouse and youngsters to a Buddhist temple to hunt refuge.
No Comment! Be the first one.