BANGKOK (BN24) — A deadly flare-up in a longstanding territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has left at least 12 people dead, mostly civilians, and reignited fears of further conflict between the Southeast Asian neighbors. Thai officials said the clashes erupted early Thursday along the disputed border, with both sides exchanging gunfire and blaming each other for initiating the violence.
According to Thailand’s military, the majority of the casualties were civilians from the border provinces of Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, and Srisaket. Among the dead were an eight-year-old child and a 15-year-old teenager. One Thai soldier was also killed. Cambodia has not yet confirmed its casualties.
The violence marks the most serious escalation between the two countries in over a decade, rooted in a border disagreement dating back to colonial-era demarcations. Tensions have periodically boiled over, particularly since 2008 when Cambodia’s move to register an 11th-century Khmer-Hindu temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site drew a sharp rebuke from Thailand.
Thai officials claim the latest round of hostilities was sparked when Cambodian troops deployed drones to spy on Thai military positions. Cambodia, however, accused Thailand of violating a standing agreement by advancing toward the disputed Preah Vihear temple, triggering an exchange of fire. What began as localized skirmishes quickly escalated, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of firing rockets and, in response, launching airstrikes on Cambodian military positions.
In response to the clashes, Thailand closed its border with Cambodia and evacuated more than 40,000 civilians from vulnerable areas. Cambodia downgraded diplomatic relations with Bangkok and denounced Thailand’s military for what it called “excessive force.”
“This is really serious. We’re in the middle of evacuating,” said Sutian Phiwchan, a resident of Ban Dan district in Thailand’s Buriram province, near the Cambodian frontier.
Both governments have issued conflicting accounts of the incident, deepening the rift and stalling immediate diplomatic resolution. The border dispute has historical roots stemming from France’s colonial occupation of Cambodia, during which unclear border demarcations sowed confusion and rival claims.
While the Preah Vihear temple was ruled in Cambodia’s favor by the International Court of Justice in 1962, surrounding areas remain contested, and have repeatedly been the flashpoint of deadly confrontations.
Tensions have steadily increased in recent months. In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border skirmish, worsening relations. Since then, both countries have enforced mutual restrictions, with Cambodia banning imports of Thai agricultural goods and halting Thai-supplied electricity and internet services. Both nations have also reinforced their troop presence along the border.
As the latest violence underscores the volatility of the dispute, international observers are urging restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent a wider conflict.
