At least 130,000 displaced as Thai-Cambodian clashes enter third day

Fighting on the Thai‑Cambodian border extended into a third day and new flashpoints emerged on Saturday as both sides sought diplomatic support, saying they had acted in self‑defence and calling on the other to cease fighting and start negotiations.

At least 30 people have been killed and more than 130,000 people displaced in the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in 13 years.

People rest inside a temporary shelter in Srisaket province, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as border fighting intensified and spread, while Cambodia's leader said Thailand had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down, Thailand, July 26, 2025. Source: Reuters

The Thai navy said there were clashes in the coastal province of Trat early on Saturday, a new front more than 100 km (60 miles) from other conflict points along the long‑contested border.

The two countries have faced off since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish. Troops on both sides of the border were reinforced amid a full‑blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse.

Read: Thailand seeks direct talks with Cambodia

Thailand's death toll remained at 19 on Saturday, while Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said five soldiers and eight civilians had been killed in the fighting. In the Kanthralak district of Thailand's Sisaket province, on the border near some of the clashes, hotel worker Chianuwat Thalalai said the town had emptied out.

People rest inside a temporary shelter in Srisaket province, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as border fighting intensified and spread, while Cambodia's leader said Thailand had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down, Thailand, July 26, 2025. Source: Reuters

"Nearly everybody's gone, it's almost a deserted city," the 31‑year‑old told Reuters. "My hotel is still open for some of those nearer to the border area that needs a place to stay."

People rest inside a temporary shelter in Srisaket province, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as border fighting intensified and spread, while Cambodia's leader said Thailand had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down, Thailand, July 26, 2025. Source: Reuters

Thailand had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down, Thailand, July 26, 2025. Source: Reuters

Read more: Thailand, Cambodia clashes intensify

Thailand's ambassador to the United Nations told a Security Council meeting on Friday that soldiers had been injured by newly planted land mines in Thai territory on two occasions since mid‑July – claims Cambodia has strongly denied – and said Cambodia had then launched attacks on Thursday morning.

People donate blood, following the Thai Red Cross's nationwide call for donations, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery amid their worst fighting in more than a decade, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 25, 2025. Source: Reuters

"Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith," Cherdchai Chaivaivid told the council in remarks released to the media.

Decades of dispute

Cambodia's defence ministry said Thailand had launched "a deliberate, unprovoked, and unlawful military attack" on Thursday, and was now mobilising troops and military equipment on the border.

These deliberate military preparations reveal Thailand's intent to expand its aggression and further violate Cambodia's sovereignty," the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Cambodia called for the international community to "condemn Thailand's aggression in the strongest terms" and to prevent an expansion of Thailand's military activities.
Bangkok reiterated it wanted to resolve the dispute bilaterally, telling the Security Council it was "deeply regrettable that Cambodia has deliberately avoided meaningful dialogue and instead sought to internationalise the issue to serve its own political objectives".

Underlying conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have long disputed parts of their 817-km border, especially over the Ta Moan Thom and 11th-century Preah Vihear temples.

The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, but tensions flared in 2008 when it sought UNESCO World Heritage status.

This triggered years of skirmishes, resulting in at least a dozen deaths.