Cambodia-Thailand tension: Borders closed as 9 dead, several civilians injured in Thailand-Cambodia airstrikes

PTC Web Desk: At least nine Thai civilians lost their lives and 14 others were wounded on Thursday during an intense escalation in border hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia, a conflict that has been simmering for months and now threatens to spiral into full-blown war.

The deadly incident took place when artillery shells launched from Cambodian territory struck a residential locality in Thailand’s northeastern Surin province, according to Thai officials. Three civilians were reportedly injured in the initial shelling.

In response, the Royal Thai Air Force deployed an F-16 fighter jet, which successfully destroyed a designated target. Several other fighter jets remain on standby.

“We have used air power against military targets as planned,” confirmed Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon.

The flare-up occurred in the vicinity of Prasat Ta Muen Thom, an ancient Khmer Hindu temple located in Surin province but also claimed by Cambodia. Both nations blamed each other for provoking the violence. The Thai military accused Cambodian troops of initiating the attack by deploying a surveillance drone, advancing with rocket launchers, and opening fire near the disputed temple site. Cambodia, however, dismissed these allegations, insisting that Thailand launched the first offensive.

Thailand has sealed all border crossings with Cambodia and confirmed that skirmishes are ongoing at six key locations along the contested boundary. In retaliation, Cambodia accused Thailand of deliberately targeting civilian zones, including two provinces hit by Thai shelling.

Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, father of current premier Hun Manet, condemned the Thai strikes. “Cambodia has always pursued peaceful solutions, but we now have no choice but to respond with force against armed aggression,” declared Prime Minister Hun Manet.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered by alleging that Cambodia had attacked Thai civilian zones, including a hospital, leading to multiple deaths. The ministry condemned the actions as violations of international law, warning that Thailand would escalate self-defence measures if Cambodian attacks continued.

In a rapid deterioration of diplomatic relations, Cambodia downgraded its ties with Thailand, expelling the Thai ambassador and withdrawing its diplomatic personnel from Bangkok. This move came after Thailand had already expelled Cambodia’s envoy, withdrawn its ambassador, and shut down border crossings in response to a landmine blast that critically injured five Thai soldiers.

Origins of the violence

The current surge in conflict can be traced back to a May 2025 skirmish in which a Cambodian soldier was killed in a disputed area. Tensions were further aggravated last week after five Thai soldiers were seriously wounded by a landmine. Thailand claims that Cambodia violated bilateral agreements by laying new mines in safe zones—an accusation Cambodia firmly denies, blaming leftover explosives from earlier decades of civil war between 1970 and 1988.

Cambodia’s defence ministry denounced what it called “reckless and brutal military aggression” by Thailand, asserting that Thai fighter jets dropped two bombs on a road inside Cambodian territory, referencing reports from Reuters.

Reacting to the crisis, Thailand has activated its “Chakrapong Phuwanart” emergency plan, a military contingency protocol earlier used during the 2011 Preah Vihear temple conflict. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai appealed for restraint, saying: “We must adhere to international law. Our priority is to protect Thailand’s sovereignty while avoiding escalation.”

The Thai Embassy in Cambodia has issued an urgent travel advisory, requesting all Thai nationals to immediately leave Cambodia. Those unable to do so have been urged to exercise extreme caution.

As tensions deepen and both sides refuse to back down, the region teeters dangerously close to an all-out war over longstanding territorial and historical disputes.