At least 12 killed in Thailand, health minister says
Thailand’s health minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, said 12 people, including 11 civilians and one soldier, were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces, Reuters reports.
He added that 24 civilians and seven military personnel were wounded.
One child was included among the civilians killed. There was no immediate word of casualties in Cambodia.
The country’s military said in a statement:
The Thai Army condemns Cambodia for using weapons to attack civilians in Thailand. Thailand is ready to protect sovereignty and our people from inhumane action.
Key events
Fighting must first stop between Thailand and Cambodia before there can be negotiations, Thailand’s acting premier said on Thursday, Reuters reports.
Phumtham Wechayachai told a press conference there had been no declaration of war and conflict was not spreading into more provinces.
He said Cambodia had fired heavy weapons into Thailand without any specific targets, resulting in civilian deaths.
The fighting comes after clashes broke out near the Khmer Hindu temple Ta Muen Thom on Thursday morning, along the border of Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.
The Thai military said Cambodian troops had opened fire near the temple, and deployed a surveillance drone before sending in troops with heavy weapons, including rocket launchers.
Cambodia has denied the claims, with its ministry of national defence saying it was the Thai military that launched the first armed assault.
The ministry said in a statement:
Cambodian forces acted strictly within the bounds of self-defence, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity.
Border disputes are longstanding issues that have caused periodic tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
The two neighbours share more than 800 kilometres (500 miles) of land border.
The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand.
Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate.
The most prominent and violent conflicts have been around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritant in bilateral relations.
Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, after several clashes between its army and Thai forces that killed about 20 people and displaced thousands. The court reaffirmed the ruling in Cambodia’s favour in 2013.
Cambodia has again turned to the international court to resolve the border disputes but Thailand has rejected the court’s jurisdiction.
Unicef has asked for all parties involved in the conflict to “exercise maximum restraint” in light of the civilian casualties that have been reported.
The UN agency said in a statement on Thursday:
Unicef is deeply concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border, which has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, including the killing of children, and the temporary closure of hundreds of schools in affected areas.
Unicef calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and protect children and the critical services they rely on, in line with their obligations under international law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children must be protected at all times and their safety and wellbeing must be prioritized, while schools must remain safe spaces for learning.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s prime minister who is now suspended from office over her handling of the border dispute, has shared a following statement on social media condemning Cambodia’s actions:
All along, Thailand has made every effort to engage in diplomatic dialogue in order to avoid confrontation, prevent further escalation of the situation and avoid losses by exercising patience and restraint while remaining committed to peaceful means. We firmly believe that peace is the best path to resolving conflicts between nations.
According to reports from the authorities concerned, I affirm that all relevant agencies have been working to their fullest capacity. I sincerely hope that the ongoing measures will bring an end to violence and bring back peace to the people at the earliest opportunity.
I fully support all responsive actions taken by the government, the Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the framework of international law and principles. I send my moral support to all officers who are currently defending our national integrity and sovereignty, as well as to the people in the affected areas. I also express my deepest concern and heartfelt support for everyone’s safety. As a highest priority, I urge all citizens to follow the government’s safety protocols to preserve lives and property.
Paetongtarn was suspended by the constitutional court this month after a recording of her discussing the border dispute with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen was leaked.
In the recording, she could be heard calling Hun Sen, an old family friend, “uncle” and saying that if there were anything he wanted, she would “take care of it”.
She also made critical remarks about a senior Thai military commander. Paetongtarn faced huge criticism domestically over the call, with opponents saying she failed to protect the country’s interests.
At least 12 killed in Thailand, health minister says
Thailand’s health minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, said 12 people, including 11 civilians and one soldier, were killed in artillery shelling by Cambodian forces, Reuters reports.
He added that 24 civilians and seven military personnel were wounded.
One child was included among the civilians killed. There was no immediate word of casualties in Cambodia.
The country’s military said in a statement:
The Thai Army condemns Cambodia for using weapons to attack civilians in Thailand. Thailand is ready to protect sovereignty and our people from inhumane action.
Malaysia prime minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday expressed concern about a rapidly escalating border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, saying he will speak with the leaders of both countries by the end of the day, Reuters reports.
Anwar told reporters:
The least we can expect from them is to just stand down and hopefully to try and enter into negotiations.
Malaysia is the current chair of the south-east Asian bloc Asean, in which Thailand and Cambodia are also members.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
The Royal Thai Army has given some further detail on today’s fatalities.
Six civilians were killed near a petrol station in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province.
Ten civilians were also injured at the petrol station site.
A further two civilians, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed in Kap Choeng district, Surin province. Two civilians injured at this site were transferred to Kap Choeng hospital.
It also cited attacks in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province, resulting in 1 fatality and 1 injury.
One person was injured in Ban Kruad district, Buriram province, it said.
The army said in a statement:
The Royal Thai Army condemns these violent acts against civilian targets by the Cambodian side and is prepared to undertake military operations to defend our sovereignty and citizens from these acts that violate humanitarian principles to the fullest extent.
Cambodia has long been a staunch ally of China, receiving billions of dollars in investments.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said:
We are deeply concerned over the current developments (and) hope both sides can properly resolve issues through dialogue and consultations.
Good-neighbourliness and properly handling differences are in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides.
Guo said on Thursday that China would adopt a “fair and impartial position” in the clashes, however.
Beijing “has and will continue to in its own way do its best to promote peace and dialogue, and play a constructive role in promoting the easing and cooling down of the situation”, Guo added.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
Here is the full version of the latest statement from Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs.
It accuses Cambodia of laying landmines that have injured Thai military personnel over recent days, and of attacking Thai military bases and civilian areas on Thursday.
The Royal Thai Government condemns in the strongest terms the violations of Thailand’s sovereignty and international law, following the laying of anti-personnel landmines within Thai territory that caused injuries to Thai military personnel while Thai soldiers were patrolling on 16 and 23 July 2025. On the morning of 24 July 2025, heavy artillery was fired into the Thai military base and continued throughout the morning. The attacks also targeted Thai civilian areas, including a hospital, resulting in civilian casualties and fatalities.
Therefore, taking into consideration the severity of the situation as a result of Cambodia’s intentional and premeditated act against Thailand, the Royal Thai Government has decided to downgrade our diplomatic relations and recall the Thai Ambassador to Cambodia back, as well as requests the Government of Cambodia to recall its Ambassador to Thailand, respectively.
The Royal Thai Government urges Cambodia to cease its repeated act which constitutes a severe violation of international law. Such actions fundamentally contradict the principles of good neighborly relations and good faith, and will further undermine Cambodia’s reputation and credibility on the global stage.
The Royal Thai Government calls upon Cambodia to take responsibility for the incidents that have occurred, cease attacks against civilian and military targets, and stop all actions that violate Thailand’s sovereignty. The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand’s sovereignty in accordance with international law and principles.
Footage shows firefighters battling to extinguish a blaze at a petrol station in Kantharatak district, in Thailand’s border region.
A Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia overnight as weeks of tensions over a border dispute escalated into clashes.
11 Thai civilians killed, health minister says
Thailand’s health minister has said that 11 Thai civilians have now been killed in the country’s conflict with Cambodia, Reuters reports.
Somsak Thepsuthin condemned Cambodia’s attack on a hospital, adding that such actions can be considered war crimes and it must take responsibility.
Thailand’s foreign ministry said earlier that Cambodian troops fired “heavy artillery” on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas including a hospital, leading to civilian casualties.
The health minister also called on Cambodia to cease the violence that was currently raging.
China’s foreign ministry on Thursday said it is deeply concerned about ongoing developments along the Thailand-Cambodia border and hopes that both sides will properly address issues through dialogue and consultations, Reuters reports.
China will play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference, adding that China upholds a just and impartial stance.
Thailand condemned Cambodia on Thursday as “inhumane, brutal and war-hungry”, accusing it of targeting homes and civilian infrastructure with artillery in clashes over a disputed border, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.
Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub called on the international community to condemn Cambodia for its artillery barrage, which has killed at least one person and wounded several more.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested the UN security council convene an “urgent meeting” over Thursday’s clashes.
Hun Manet writes in a letter to Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, president of the security council for July 2025:
Considering the recent extremely grave aggressions by Thailand, which have gravely threatened peace and stability in the region, I earnestly request you to convene an urgent meeting of the Security Council to stop Thailand’s aggression.
The letter accuses Thailand of “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian positions along border areas.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have blamed each other for the clashes on Thursday.
Nine Thai civilians killed in conflict, army says
An armed conflict that erupted on Thursday between Cambodia and Thailand has killed nine Thai civilians across three provinces, the Thai army said, Reuters reports.
Those killed included an 8-year-old boy.
A further 14 people in Thailand have been injured as a result of the fighting, the army said in a statement.
