After the attack from Thailand, in response, Cambodian forces returned fire with rockets and artillery, launching counterstrikes across the border into Thai territory. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces said they were acting in self-defense and had no choice but to protect the nation’s sovereignty.
This latest assault follows weeks of rising aggression by Thailand, centered around the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple, an ancient and sacred site that has repeatedly served as a flashpoint in Thai-Cambodian tensions.
On the morning of July 24, just hours before the airstrike, Thai troops were seen laying barbed wire barriers around the temple site, which lies clearly within Cambodian territory in Oddar Meanchey province. Not long after, Thai soldiers opened fire on Cambodian troops, triggering an exchange of gunfire. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense described the incident as an “unprovoked attack.”
“This wasn’t just a provocation, it was a clear and violent violation of our sovereignty,” said Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, undersecretary of state. “And let’s not forget, this isn’t the first time Thai forces have killed Cambodian soldiers in cold blood. Our people remember those incidents clearly.”
A Timeline of Escalation
The current conflict is the result of deliberate and repeated escalation by Thai military forces over the past several weeks and months.
May 28, 2025: Tensions flared earlier this year when a Cambodian soldier, 48-year-old Suon Roan, was fatally shot during a gunfire exchange with Thai troops at the Mom Tei border post in Techo Morakot village. Cambodian military officials said Thai forces initiated the clash with armed aggression in what is considered one of the most volatile and disputed areas along the border. The incident sparked public outrage in Cambodia but did not receive an official acknowledgement from Thailand.
July 13, 2025: A Cambodian tourist captured video footage of a violent incident involving a Thai soldier and a Thai civilian assaulting a Cambodian soldier at the Ta Moan Thom Temple. The Thai soldier initially appears to offer a handshake before grabbing the soldier’s wrist and striking him, while a civilian pushes the Cambodian soldier away. The attackers fled the scene. The video, time-stamped at 10:20 a.m., circulated widely and caused outrage online.
July 20, 2025: The Royal Thai Army claimed it discovered two newly laid anti-personnel landmines in Ubon Ratchathani province and accused Cambodia of planting them. Lt. Gen. Socheata denied the allegation, saying that the region remains dangerous due to landmines left over from past wars, which have yet to be cleared.
July 23, 2025: The Thai Foreign Ministry downgraded diplomatic ties with Cambodia and lodged a formal protest based on the mine accusation. This was widely interpreted as a signal of impending escalation.
July 24, 2025 — Morning: Thai troops laid barbed wire at the Ta Moan Thom Temple and opened fire on Cambodian soldiers, prompting a defensive response.
July 24, 2025 — Afternoon: The situation spiraled into open conflict when Thailand launched airstrikes, reportedly targeting non-military areas, including schools and civilian homes. Cambodia retaliated with heavy artillery and rocket fire into Thai territory.
Historical Wounds Resurface
The memory of previous deadly border clashes, including those near Preah Vihear Temple in 2008 and 2011, remains fresh among many Cambodians. In both cases, Cambodian soldiers were killed, and Thailand was widely accused of initiating the aggression.
“The Thai army has done this before,” said a Cambodian veteran at the border. “We buried our brothers after they killed them last time. This war isn’t new. It’s just another chapter in the same story.”
Regional and International Reaction
As of Thursday evening, casualties from the current attack remain unconfirmed, but reports from Oddar Meanchey indicate civilian evacuations are underway, and smoke is visible from multiple districts.
The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now calling on the United Nations and ASEAN for urgent intervention, warning that Thailand’s actions amount to a “calculated act of war.”
Thailand, meanwhile, continues to claim it is responding to border violations, accusations that Cambodian officials dismiss as baseless and misleading.
Thai F-16 drops bombs on Cambodian bases
What Comes Next?
With both sides exchanging fire and diplomacy rapidly unraveling, Southeast Asia faces a renewed crisis. Analysts warn that if unchecked, this border war could destabilize not only Cambodia and Thailand but also strain ASEAN unity and regional peace.
Follow The Mekong Times for verified updates, analysis, and exclusive reporting from the frontlines of the Cambodia–Thailand conflict.