In mid-2025, renewed hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand erupted along their disputed border, intensifying long-standing tensions over the Preah Vihear Temple region. A Cambodian mine injured a Thai soldier, triggering clashes involving rockets, artillery, and aerial bombings. This escalation provoked a strong United Nations outcry, urging de-escalation and diplomacy. Historical disputes dating back to early 1900s treaties have complicated peacemaking efforts, while civilians face disruptions and dangers. More insights into these developments await further exploration.
The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, rooted in historical territorial disputes, has resurfaced with renewed intensity in 2025, following a sequence of provocative incidents. The origins of this dispute trace back to the Franco-Siamese treaties of the early 1900s and the contentious 1907 map drawn during French colonial rule. The Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding areas have remained points of contention, despite the 1962 International Court of Justice ruling in favor of Cambodia.
Historical border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand reignite, centered on the disputed Preah Vihear Temple region.
Nationalist sentiments have perpetuated tensions, leading to sporadic skirmishes since 2008, with significant clashes last occurring in 2011. The differing interpretations of the 1907 map by Cambodia and Thailand complicate the sovereignty claims over the region, further inflaming the dispute. The previous skirmishes from 2008 to 2011 resulted in casualties on both sides, underscoring the ongoing military tensions and unresolved historical grievances that continue to affect civilian populations in the area.
The immediate trigger for the 2025 conflict was the injury of a Thai soldier on July 23, who stepped on a PMN-2 landmine in the Nam Yuen district, a disputed territory. This incident led to an exchange of fire on July 24, with each side accusing the other of firing first. Reports of Cambodian drones near Thai bases heightened military and psychological tensions.
The conflict escalated as Cambodia launched rockets at Thai positions, prompting Thailand to retaliate with mortar and aerial bombing using F-16 fighter jets over Cambodian locations near Preah Vihear. In a sign of escalating diplomatic tensions, Thailand closed all border crossings with Cambodia before the fighting intensified.
The military engagements on July 24 spread across several kilometers along the contested frontier, involving rockets, artillery, and airstrikes. Thailand deployed F-16 jets to target Cambodian military command posts, while Cambodia utilized PHL-03 rocket systems against Thai targets, including civilian areas. Open-source data suggests that increased military movements by both sides were observed in the months leading up to the conflict, indicating a buildup that foreshadowed the outbreak of hostilities.
Despite lacking fighter jets, Cambodia reinforced its ground forces, enhancing both defensive and offensive operations.
