The Thailand-Cambodia border war rages on, displacing 100,000 Thais and killing 16 people. Get an insight into the Ta Muen Thom temple conflict and its effects.
The Thailand-Cambodia border war has flared into one of the bloodiest confrontations in more than a decade, displacing more than 100,000 Thai nationals from their homes. On July 25, 2025, the second day of heavy clashes close to the Ta Muen Thom temple, Thai officials confirm 16 fatalities, 14 civilians among them, as both countries blame each other for initiating the skirmishes. With fighter jets, drones, and heavy weapons on the table, this increasingly ferocious Thailand-Cambodia border war is sounding the alarm around the world. From the holy Hindu shrines to the resettled families, this blog explores the very core of the crisis, its origins, and the desperate pleas for peace.
Crisis Intensifying: Evacuations and Increased Deaths
The crisis in Thailand-Cambodia has thrown things into chaos for the villages along the disputed border. Thai authorities claim 100,672 individuals from four border provinces—Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, and others—have been relocated to safe houses as hostilities intensify. The Thai Health Ministry says 15 people died, 14 of them civilians, including an eight-year-old boy, and 31 were wounded. The Cambodian government has not provided official death tolls but an Oddar Meanchey province local official stated that one civilian died, five were injured and 1,500 families were relocated.
Military and Civilian Impacts
The conflict, which commenced on July 24, 2025, is focused in front of the Ta Muen Thom temple, a 12th-century Hindu temple both countries claim ownership over. Thai military accounts report Cambodian deployment of heavy weapons such as Russian-manufactured BM-21 rocket launchers. Cambodia charges Thailand with instigating the Thailand-Cambodia border clashes with drone attacks and shooting. Each side claims self-defense, but fighting intensified, targeting residential areas and even a hospital in Surin province.
| Country | Evacuations | Casualties | Reported Actions |
| Thailand | 100,672 people | 15 dead, 31 injured | Border closure, airstrikes, artillery response |
| Cambodia | 1,500 families | 1 dead, 5 injured | BM-21 rockets, drone deployment |
Ta Muen Thom Temple: The Root of Dispute
Beneath the dispute regarding the Thai-Cambodian territorial conflict is the Ta Muen Thom temple, a Hindu sacred temple in the Dangrek Mountains, built in the 12th century for Hindu King Udayadityavarman II which stands today as a laterite stone temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, including a natural Shivalinga in the sanctum. Its south-facing entrance is unconventional for Khmer temples, and its position on an inadequately demarcated border has made it a point of national pride for both Cambodia and Thailand.
Both countries claim ownership, using historic connections and competing colonial-era maps, such as the 1907 French map Cambodia invokes in support of its argument. Thailand argues the map is flawed which has intensified the Thailand-Cambodia border disagreement. Tensions escalated earlier this year when Cambodian troops sang their national anthem at the site, leading to a heated exchange of words with Thai soldiers captured on video.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesA History of Tensions: From Preah Vihear to Ta Muen Thom
The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is not new. For over a century, frictions over ancient Khmer temples such as Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom have fueled violence.
- 1962: Preah Vihear awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice, which Thailand did not accept.
- 2013: Battles ensued over Preah Vihear.
- 2025: Thailand-Cambodia border war intensifies after Thailand recalls its envoy in Phnom Penh and expels Cambodia’s ambassador due to a Thai soldier being injured by a landmine, which Cambodia labelled as unfounded.
Weapons and Escalation
The ongoing conflict, the most severe since 2012, sees sophisticated weapons—F-16 aircraft, drones, RPGs, and BM-21 rockets—turning religious places into war zones. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on July 25, 2025, to discuss the crisis.
The Human Costs: Innocent Civilians “Collateral Damage”
The Thailand/Cambodia border war costs civilians the most. In Thailand, houses, a hospital, and a gas station have been hit by artillery fire, displacing 40,000 out of 86 villages. Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai decried Cambodia’s deployment of heavy weapons as a breach of international law.
“This isn’t about territory—it’s irresponsible and harms innocent people,” he said during a press briefing, reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to peace but being prepared to defend itself.
Cambodia maintains it is acting in self-defense. Defense Ministry spokesman Meli Sochet declared that Thai aggression precipitated the response, and Cambodian troops defended their sovereignty under international law. 1,500 families in Oddar Meanchey have been displaced, indicating the conflict’s extent.
International Response and Appeals for Peace
The Thailand-Cambodia border war has raised international alarm.
- United States: Urged immediate end to hostilities. “We are very concerned about the apparent escalation of violence and reports of civilian harm,” said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
- United Kingdom: Issued travel advisory on July 24, advising against non-essential travel to parts of Thailand and Cambodia.
- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet: Called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to respond to “Thailand’s aggressiveness.”
Diplomatic Tensions
Rear Admiral Surasak Kongsiri announced Thailand would close all border crossings, stating the border conflict is likely to greatly escalate between Thailand and Cambodia.
Why Temples Fuel the Fight
The Ta Muen Thom temple and others, such as Preah Vihear, are not just historical monuments—they’re national symbols. Constructed under the Khmer Empire, the temples now occupy the epicenter of the Thailand-Cambodia border war.
Cultural and Political Significance
Their cultural significance ignites nationalistic fervor, turning sacred hubs into martial gathering places. In 2008, UNESCO designated Preah Vihear as World Heritage, provoking anger and leading both countries to send military reinforcements.
What Will Happen: Will There Be Peace?
Framing the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict requires diplomacy and trust, which is lacking. Both sides demand negotiations, but charges of provocation maintain tensions. The UN Security Council session might compel a ceasefire, but previous attempts, such as the 2013 Preah Vihear negotiations, showed little progress.
Thai Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin called the hospital attack a “war crime”, marking Thailand’s willingness to raise rhetoric if not action.
Civilian Situation
Embed from Getty ImagesFor civilians, safety is paramount. Thailand’s border lockdown and Cambodia’s quietness on extraction suggest both countries are braced for more disorder. Time wasted on the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict will not only create more instability for the region, it will also fail at preserving cultural identity and risk human life.
Thailand-Cambodia Fighting
The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict is a tragic clash of history and modern politics, with the Ta Muen Thom temple at its heart The staggering loss of more than 100,000 displaced Thais, 16 dead, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under attack, demonstrates that something must be done. While both Thailand and Cambodia continue to point fingers at one another, it is ultimately human beings paying the price – men, women and children displaced or dead – that must drive action. The international community and organizations (including the US) is calling on both sides to calm things down but more than words will need to be done to resolve the Thailand and Cambodia border conflict. It is a stark reminder that temples made for worship can be turned into ruins when history and pride collide. One can only hope that diplomacy prevails so that lives can be saved and these sacred places remain places of reverence.