Thailand, Cambodia Exchange Heavy Artillery as Border Battle Expands

SURIN — The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia entered its second day as both sides exchanged heavy artillery and rocket fire, escalating the crisis into the most intense confrontation in over a decade.

Rising Death Toll and Widespread Displacement

Thai officials confirmed at least 16 fatalities—including 13 civilians and one soldier in Thailand, and an unverified civilian death in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey—while at least 46 people were wounded. Over 100,000 people have been displaced, with 40,000 evacuated from Thailand and thousands more in Cambodia forced to flee as fighting spread across multiple flashpoints.

Broadening Conflict Zone

Clashes erupted on July 24 near Ta Muen Thom temple zone and rapidly spread across six to fourteen border areas, including Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket (Thailand), and Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey (Cambodia).

Military Escalation and Accusations

• Thailand accused Cambodian forces of firing BM‑21 rocket artillery and heavy weapons into civilian areas, even targeting a hospital and petrol station; it denied using prohibited weapons, but later admitted limited use of cluster munitions under legal proportionality principles.
• Cambodia alleged Thai forces initiated aggression, using drones and airstrikes, and condemned Thailand’s use of bombs and cluster munitions—also asserting major damage to the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO heritage site.
• Thailand’s acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai framed the clashes as armed skirmishes, not war, and reaffirmed willingness for bilateral talks—provided Cambodia halts the artillery offensives.

Humanitarian Crisis

Evacuees have sought refuge in schools, sports gyms, and makeshift shelters: in Surin province alone, residents packed into university halls, fleeing shelling during school sports events and daily life disruptions.

Human Rights Watch warned of severe violations of international humanitarian law, citing civilian casualties in temples, hospitals, and inadequate precautions in populated areas.

Politics, Regional Reactions, and Diplomatic Fallout

• A UN Security Council emergency meeting was convened after Cambodia requested intervention; ASEAN Chair Malaysia offered to mediate, while Thailand rejected foreign mediation and called for a bilateral approach.
• Global powers including the US, China, EU, and Myanmar’s ASEAN leadership urged ceasefire and restraint.
• Domestic politics further fuel tensions: political fallout in Thailand led to PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension while Hun Manet in Cambodia reinforced sovereignty rhetoric; personal feuds between Thai and Cambodian political families have been cited as exacerbating the dispute.

Why This Intensifies the Crisis