Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire early Thursday at a flashpoint section of their border, with both countries accusing each other of triggering the violence near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple. The exchange marks a dangerous escalation in a long-standing territorial dispute that has flared in recent weeks.
According to the Thai military, Cambodian forces opened fire near the centuries-old Khmer temple, prompting Thai soldiers to return fire. The military also claimed that Cambodia had sent a surveillance drone into the area before deploying heavily armed troops, and confirmed that at least two Thai soldiers were injured in the exchange, reports BBC.
Cambodia, however, blamed Thailand for firing first. Its Ministry of Defence stated that Cambodian soldiers acted in self-defence after coming under attack. Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said the troops had “exercised their right to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity” against what she termed Thai aggression.
Socheata added that Thailand had “violated the territorial integrity of Cambodia,” a view echoed by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who said on Facebook that Thai shelling had struck parts of two Cambodian provinces. Urging calm, he called on the public not to panic.
Prime Minister Hun Manet also posted a statement, asserting that while Cambodia remains committed to peaceful resolution, “we have no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression.”
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai acknowledged that the situation with Cambodia is “delicate” and should be addressed in accordance with international law. He did not confirm who initiated the exchange but urged restraint.
The border clash came just a day after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia in protest of a landmine explosion that injured a Thai soldier along the frontier. Bangkok also announced it would expel the Cambodian ambassador in response.
Bilateral ties are at their lowest in more than a decade. Armed clashes in May left one Cambodian soldier dead, and over the past two months, both nations have imposed retaliatory restrictions and increased military presence along the disputed border.
Thursday’s confrontation comes amid mounting diplomatic fallout, sharpening fears of a broader conflict. With tensions peaking and nationalist rhetoric rising, both countries now face urgent calls from the international community to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table.