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Thailand-Cambodia border dispute: 130,000 Thai civilians evacuated amid second day of clashes Thailand-Cambodia border dispute: 130,000 Thai civilians evacuated amid second day of clashes
(about 2 hours later)
Thailand PM warns cross-border clashes ‘could develop into war’ as fighting spreads to 12 locations Thai PM says cross-border clashes ‘could develop into war’ as fighting spreads to 12 locations
Thailand has evacuated more than 130,000 people along the Cambodian border, it said on Friday, as the country’s leader warned cross-border clashes could develop into war. Thailand has evacuated more than 130,000 people along its border with Cambodia, as the worst fighting between the two neighbours in more than a decade spread to new areas.
Clashes that began on Thursday resumed early on Friday, the Thai military reported, as the two countries fought in their bloodiest military clashes in over a decade.Fighting had taken place in 12 locations along the disputed border, a Thai military official – an expansion of the conflict that erupted a day earlier. “This present incident of aggression is escalating and could develop to the stage of war,” Thailand’s acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters in Bangkok. “However, right now we are still at altercation level, battling with heavy weapons. What we have done so far are to protect our land and sovereignty of our nation.” Clashes had taken place in 12 locations along the disputed border, according to a Thai military official – an expansion of the conflict that erupted a day earlier.
Thai officials said 138,000 people from four border provinces had been evacuated, as the country’s death toll rose to 15, including 14 civilians. An eight-year-old boy was among those killed.Thai officials said 138,000 people from four border provinces had been evacuated, as the country’s death toll rose to 15, including 14 civilians. An eight-year-old boy was among those killed.
Cambodia’s national government has not provided details of any casualties or evacuations of civilians but a local official in Oddar Meanchey province told Reuters that one civilian had been killed and five were wounded, with 1,500 families evacuated.Cambodia’s national government has not provided details of any casualties or evacuations of civilians but a local official in Oddar Meanchey province told Reuters that one civilian had been killed and five were wounded, with 1,500 families evacuated.
Thailand’s military reported clashes from before dawn on Friday in the Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces. “This present incident of aggression is escalating and could develop to the stage of war,” Thailand’s acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters in Bangkok. “However, right now we are still at altercation level, battling with heavy weapons. What we have done so far is to protect our land and sovereignty of our nation.”
“Cambodian forces have conducted sustained bombardment utilising heavy weapons, field artillery and BM-21 rocket systems,” the Thai military said in a statement. Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Manet, said he had supported a proposal by Malaysia for a ceasefire, but claimed Thailand had initially agreed, only to reverse its decision. Both sides have accused each other of starting the clashes, and of violating international norms.
“Thai forces have responded with appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation.” Malaysia, which chairs the regional bloc the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called on Thailand and Cambodia to stand down, while the US and China both expressed concern.
Clashes broke out on Thursday morning after weeks of simmering tensions over a long-running border dispute between the south-east-Asian neighbours. Both accused each other of opening fire first. Fighting resumed from before dawn on Friday in the Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces, according to the Thai military.
The clashes are the latest in a history of conflict along Cambodia and Thailand’s 508-mile (817km) border, sections of which are subject to overlapping claims due to disagreements about colonial-era maps. “Cambodian forces have conducted sustained bombardment utilising heavy weapons, field artillery and BM-21 rocket systems,” the Thai military said in a statement. “Thai forces have responded with appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation.”
The recent border tensions first erupted in May, when troops briefly exchanged fire in a contested area, killing a Cambodian soldier. This led to retaliatory measures by both sides. Fighting first broke out on Thursday morning after weeks of simmering tensions over a long-running border dispute between the south-east-Asian neighbours.
The crisis escalated further on Wednesday when five Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine, the second such incident in a week. Thailand responded by recalling its ambassador to Cambodia on Wednesday and saying it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok. Thailand alleged the landmines had been placed in the area recently – claims that Cambodia denies. The clashes are the latest in a history of conflict along Cambodia and Thailand’s 508-mile (817km) border, sections of which are subject to overlapping claims due to disagreements about colonial-era maps.
Clashes escalated on Thursday, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of launching rocket and artillery attacks, including in civilians areas, and saying its air force had launched airstrikes on military targets in Cambodia. Tensions have been high since May, when troops briefly exchanged fire in a contested area, killing a Cambodian soldier. This led to retaliatory measures by both sides.
The dispute has been fanned by nationalist sentiment, and compounded by a bitter feud between two powerful politicians in either country: Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for four decades before handing power to his son Hun Manet in 2023, and Thaksin Shinawatra, the former populist leader of Thailand, whose daughter Paetongtarn became prime minister in 2024. Both former leaders remain highly influential. The crisis worsened on Wednesday when five Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine, the second such incident in a week. Thailand responded by recalling its ambassador to Cambodia and saying it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok. Thailand alleged the landmines had been placed in the area recently, claims that Cambodia denies.
On Thursday night Thaksin said on social media that he had thanked countries that had offered to mediate the crisis but that he would like to wait a little bit, adding: “We need to let the Thai military do their job, and teach Hun Sen a lesson.” Clashes escalated dramatically the following day, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of launching rocket and artillery attacks, including in civilians areas, and saying its air force had launched airstrikes on military targets in Cambodia.
Hun Sen responded on Facebook that Thaksin’s “warlike tone” underscored “Thailand’s military aggression toward Cambodia”. The dispute has been fanned by nationalist sentiment, and compounded by a bitter feud between two powerful politicians in either country: Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for four decades before handing power to his son Hun Manet in 2023, and Thaksin Shinawatra, the former populist leader of Thailand, whose daughter Paetongtarn became prime minister in 2024. Both former leaders remain highly influential.
In a statement that accused Thaksin of betraying his own king and party, he added: “under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people.” On Thursday night Thaksin said on social media that he had thanked countries that had offered to mediate the crisis but that he would like to wait a little bit, adding: “We need to let the Thai military do their job, and teach Hun Sen a lesson.”
Hun Sen responded on Facebook that Thaksin’s “warlike tone” underscored “Thailand’s military aggression toward Cambodia”.
In a statement that accused Thaksin of betraying his own king and party, he added: “under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people”.
The UN security council was due to meet on Friday over the conflict. The US, a longtime treaty ally of Thailand, called for an immediate end to hostilities.The UN security council was due to meet on Friday over the conflict. The US, a longtime treaty ally of Thailand, called for an immediate end to hostilities.
“We are … gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians,” the state department’s deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, told a regular news briefing. “We are … gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians,” the state department’s deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, told a regular news briefing. “The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
“The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.” China also said it was “deeply concerned” by thes clashes and that that Beijing “has and will continue to in its own way do its best to promote peace and dialogue”.
China also said it was “deeply concerned” by thes clashes and that that Beijing “has and will continue to in its own way do its best to promote peace and dialogue”. Britain’s foreign ministry on Thursday advised against all but essential travel to parts of Cambodia and Thailand.
Phumtham told reporters that he condemned the use of “heavy weapons without a clear target, outside of conflict zones” saying the use of force and did not adhere to international law. With Agence France-Presse and Reuters
“We remain committed to peaceful means and there should be discussions, but what happened was a provocation and we had to defend ourselves,” he added.
Thailand’s health minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, said a hospital was hit by shelling in Surin province, an attack he said should be considered “a war crime”.
Britain’s foreign ministry on Thursday advised against all but essential travel to parts of Cambodia and Thailand.With Agence France-Presse and Reuters