Thailand issued a warning on Friday regarding the renewed violent confrontations along its border with Cambodia, stating that these clashes “could escalate into war.” This comes ahead of an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the violence that has resulted in the evacuation of approximately 140,000 Thais.
The border dispute between the two Southeast Asian nations has recently escalated to unprecedented levels of violence not seen since 2011, involving fighter jets, tanks, ground troops, and artillery shelling in various contested areas.
Abhisit Saprasert, a military official in the Thai provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat, announced that “martial law is now in effect” across eight border provinces.
Thailand’s health ministry reported that 15 people, including a soldier, have been killed, along with over forty injured from the Thai side.
On the Cambodian side, a seventy-year-old man was killed and five others sustained injuries. Following a request from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, the UN Security Council is convening an emergency session in New York on Friday.
Acting Thai Prime Minister Pumtham Wechayachai warned that the border skirmishes with Cambodia “could transform into war,” clarifying, “If the situation escalates, it could turn into war, even if it is currently limited to clashes.”
The Thai health ministry indicated that over 138,000 civilians have evacuated conflict-affected areas in the country’s northeast.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship—including Thailand and Cambodia—confirmed that he has spoken with the leaders of both nations.
In a post on social media, Ibrahim called for an “immediate ceasefire” and a peaceful resolution to the tensions, noting “positive indicators and the determination of Bangkok and Phnom Penh to pursue this path.”
However, just hours after his post, fighting resumed in three areas around 4 a.m., as reported by the Thai military.
Cambodian forces conducted artillery bombardments using heavy weapons and “BM-21” rocket systems, according to military sources, while Thai forces responded with “appropriate supporting fire.”
The two countries have exchanged accusations regarding who initiated the gunfire first, both emphasizing their right to self-defense. Bangkok accused Phnom Penh of targeting civilian infrastructure, such as a hospital and fuel station, claims which Cambodian authorities denied.
Thailand deployed several F-16 fighter jets to strike what it categorized as Cambodian military targets.
Appeals for Dialogue
The long-standing border conflict in the area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries intersect with Laos, has escalated into a military confrontation that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
The Cambodia-Thailand border dispute dates back many years, centering on boundary demarcation over more than 800 kilometers established through agreements during the French colonial rule of Indochina.
From 2008 to 2011, clashes over the Preah Vihear temple—UNESCO world heritage listed—claimed at least 28 lives and displaced thousands.
The International Court of Justice has ruled in Cambodia’s favor regarding the temple and surrounding area on two occasions, first in 1962 and again in 2013.
On Wednesday, Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador and summoned its envoy from Phnom Penh after a Thai soldier lost a leg due to a landmine explosion on the border.
Thai authorities indicated that a military investigation concluded Cambodia had planted new landmines along the border, a claim Cambodia has rejected, asserting that the border areas remain riddled with active mines from “past wars.”
Countries including the United States, France, the European Union, and China have urged both sides to engage in dialogue to resolve the conflict.
On Friday, Thailand confirmed its readiness to resolve the dispute with Cambodia through Malaysian mediation, according to a statement from the Thai foreign ministry.
Nikkorendj Palankura stated, “We are prepared, if Cambodia wishes to resolve this issue through diplomatic channels, either bilaterally or with Malaysia’s mediation. We are ready to do so, but we have yet to receive any response.”