Thailand and Cambodia are locked in their worst border fighting since 2011. The clashes erupted July 24 and have already killed at least 15 civilians and 1 soldier in Thailand, with 46 wounded. Cambodia has reported 1 death and 5 injuries. More than 130,000 Thai civilians have been evacuated. Cambodia says 5,000 have fled. The fighting spans 12 locations along the 508-mile frontier, with artillery, BM-21 rocket systems, and Thai F-16 airstrikes in play. The trigger was a landmine blast that severed a Thai soldier’s leg. Bangkok blamed Phnom Penh. Cambodia denied it. Then came the diplomatic purge. Thailand expelled Cambodia’s ambassador. Cambodia pulled its staff from Bangkok. The border shut. The war started.
Thailand’s military is running a full-spectrum campaign. Six F-16s bombed Cambodian positions in Ubon Ratchathani. Two Cambodian tanks were destroyed at Khao Sattasom. Thai artillery hit command posts of Cambodia’s 8th and 9th Infantry Divisions. Martial law is now active in eight Thai districts. Cambodia claims it holds Ta Krabey, Mom Bei, and Ta Moan Thom temples. Thailand says it controls Ta Moan Thom and has assaulted Cambodian positions at Ta Krabey and Phu Makuea. The temples are symbolic. The fight is personal.
The feud traces back to a leaked phone call. Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra called Hun Sen in June to cool tensions. She used the word “uncle.” She criticized her own general. Hun Sen leaked the tape. Paetongtarn was suspended by Thailand’s Constitutional Court. Her coalition collapsed. Hun Sen then accused Thaksin Shinawatra of insulting the Thai monarchy. That’s lese-majeste. That’s political napalm. Cambodia filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice. Thailand rejected it. Cambodia banned Thai films, produce, and fuel. Thailand closed the border. The war started.
It seems that Thailand’s military strength far exceeds Cambodia’s. As long as China or the United States does not stop Thailand, Thailand is fully capable of dealing a heavy blow to Cambodia.
Regarding Asian affairs, I advocate for China to cooperate with the United States on… pic.twitter.com/scHJD3DChD
— DaiWW (@BeijingDai) July 25, 2025
Thailand’s military advantage is overwhelming. It fields 360,000 active troops, 400 tanks, 2,600 artillery pieces, and a functioning air force. Cambodia has no fighter jets. Thailand’s use of F-16s marks a rare combat deployment. Cambodia’s BM-21 rockets hit a gas station in Sisaket, killing 8, including an 8-year-old boy. Cambodian forces shelled Phanom Dong Rak Hospital. Thailand responded with Operation Yuttha Bodin, a coordinated land and air offensive. Cambodian troops are reportedly placing themselves close to Thai positions to neutralize air superiority.
The United States and China both offered to mediate. Thailand rejected third-party involvement. Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, urged restraint. Cambodia appealed to the UN Security Council. China said it supports ASEAN-led dialogue but is quietly working both sides. Beijing has deep ties to Hun Sen and controls access to Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base. Thailand is a non-NATO U.S. ally. The proxy dynamics are obvious. But the real story is personal betrayal. Hun Sen burned his bridge with the Shinawatras. Now Thailand is burning his border.
The economic fallout is immediate. Cross-border trade has collapsed. Cambodia blocked Thai electricity and fuel. Thailand shut down crossings. Cambodian casinos are empty. Thai border markets are deserted. 500,000 Cambodian workers in Thailand face job loss. Tourism is frozen. Infrastructure projects like the Thai-Cambodia-Vietnam rail link are stalled. Cambodia’s retaliatory bans threaten its own energy security. 30% of its fuel comes from Thailand.
This is not a territorial war. It’s a punishment campaign. Thailand is teaching Hun Sen and Hun Manet a lesson. The leaked call was the fuse. The landmine was the spark. The artillery is the message. China will mediate when it’s done watching. America is sidelined. ASEAN is fractured. The war will not last. But the lesson will.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/07/25/thailand-cambodia-heavy-artillery/85369792007/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/leaked-phone-call-heart-escalating-123856111.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/24/what-we-know-about-clashes-on-the-thai-cambodian-border
