Thailand and Cambodia engaged in intense military clashes along their disputed border, escalating a decades-long conflict over the Emerald Triangle, a region where their borders meet Laos and home to ancient temples. The violence, which killed at least nine civilians, including an eight-year-old boy, and injured several others, marked a sharp deterioration in relations between the Southeast Asian neighbors.

Thailand deployed six F-16 fighter jets from Ubon Ratchathani, striking two Cambodian military targets, while Cambodia fired BM-21 rockets and artillery, hitting civilian areas in Thailand’s Surin province, including a hospital and a gas station.

The conflict ignited near the Ta Muen Thom temple when Thai forces detected a Cambodian drone at 7:35 AM, followed by six armed Cambodian soldiers approaching a Thai post. Both sides accused each other of initiating the violence, with Cambodia claiming self-defense against Thai aggression and Thailand alleging Cambodian forces targeted civilians. The Thai Foreign Ministry condemned Cambodia’s actions, citing violations of sovereignty, while Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet called for a UN Security Council meeting to address Thailand’s “unprovoked” attacks.

Tensions, already high after a May skirmish that killed a Cambodian soldier, worsened following a landmine incident on July 23 that injured five Thai soldiers. Thailand accused Cambodia of planting new mines, a claim Phnom Penh denied, pointing to unexploded ordnance from past conflicts. Both nations have downgraded diplomatic ties, with Thailand closing all border crossings and Cambodia expelling Thai diplomats. The Thai embassy urged its nationals to leave Cambodia, and over 40,000 civilians were evacuated from border areas.

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The dispute has sparked a political crisis in Thailand, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended amid an ethics probe over a leaked call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. Cambodia’s announcement of civilian conscription in 2025 further signals escalating tensions. Both sides claim adherence to international law, but the lack of leadership to de-escalate raises fears of further violence in this volatile region.

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