Thailand-Cambodia dispute: Shots fired at hotly contested border
Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged gunfire early on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at a disputed border area near the ancient Khmer temple Prasat Ta Muen Thom, located on the border between Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. Both sides accused each other of firing the first shots, with the Thai military stating that Cambodian forces opened fire after deploying a reconnaissance drone and sending armed soldiers equipped with heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, near a Thai military base.
Cambodia claimed its forces acted in self-defense following an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops. The clash occurred amid escalating tensions and recent diplomatic fallout, including Thailand expelling the Cambodian ambassador due to landmine incidents that injured Thai soldiers and reciprocal diplomatic retaliations. There were reports of injuries to both military personnel and civilians on the Thai side, with no immediate confirmation of Cambodian casualties. Thailand also deployed fighter jets to the border region following the confrontation.
The context includes longstanding territorial disputes and a recent sharp deterioration in relations after a landmine explosion injured several Thai soldiers in May and July, leading to reciprocal military buildups, restrictions on border crossings, and heightened diplomatic tensions. Both countries have reinforced their military presence and imposed reciprocal diplomatic measures, with neither side showing signs of de-escalation yet. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing exchanges of accusations and military skirmishes.
The exchange of fire at the border on July 24, 2025, represents the latest in a series of violent and diplomatic confrontations between Thailand and Cambodia over disputed border areas around Prasat Ta Muen Thom. Both nations maintain strong claims of self-defense and accuse the other of initiating hostilities, while the crisis continues to strain diplomatic relations to a low point not seen in over a decade.
