Surin, Thailand – On the morning of July 24th, 2025, a tense armed confrontation unfolded near the historic Ta Muen Temple in Phanom Dong Rak district in Surin province, along the Thai-Cambodian border, according to the Royal Thai Army. The clash, which involved gunfire exchange between Thai and Cambodian forces, has heightened tensions in a region with a history of territorial disputes.
Colonel Ritcha Suksuwanon, Deputy Spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army, reported that at 7:35 AM, Thai troops stationed near Ta Muen Thom Temple detected the distinct sound of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), believed to have originated from Cambodian territory. While the drone was not visible, its audible presence raised concerns among the Thai task force guarding the sensitive border area.
Shortly after, at around 8:00 AM, six fully armed Cambodian soldiers, including one carrying a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), were observed advancing toward a barbed-wire fence near the Thai forward operating base, located close to the temple. Thai forces issued verbal warnings in an effort to de-escalate the situation and prevent a confrontation, while maintaining heightened alertness.
Despite these efforts, according to the Royal Thai Army, Cambodian troops opened fire at approximately 8:20 AM from a position roughly 200 meters east of the Thai base, directly opposite Ta Muen Thom Temple. Thai soldiers responded with retaliatory gunfire to counter the aggression. No immediate reports of casualties or damage have been confirmed by either side. Cambodia, however, is claiming Thailand fired first, according to Cambodia media, which Thailand strongly denies.
The Royal Thai Army is closely monitoring the situation and has pledged to provide updates as further details emerge. The incident marks the latest flare-up in a long-standing border dispute centered around the 11th-century Ta Muen Thom Temple, part of a broader territorial disagreement between Thailand and Cambodia. The area, near the larger Preah Vihear Temple, has been a flashpoint since a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia, though disputes over surrounding areas, including Ta Muen, persist. Thailand also states it does not recognize the decisions made by the International Court of Justice.
Both nations have stationed military personnel along the border, and previous clashes, notably in 2008 and 2011, have resulted in casualties and strained bilateral relations. Diplomatic efforts, including talks mediated by ASEAN, have sought to resolve the issue, but tensions remain.
As the situation develops, international observers are watching closely, given the region’s history of volatility and the potential for broader diplomatic repercussions.
Additionally, on July 23rd, 2025, Thailand and Cambodia downgraded their diplomatic relations following a landmine explosion that injured five Thai soldiers, one of whom lost a leg, in the disputed border area of Ubon Ratchathani province. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered the recall of the Thai ambassador from Phnom Penh and the expulsion of Cambodia’s ambassador from Bangkok, while also lodging a formal protest, claiming the landmines were newly deployed by Cambodia.
In response, Cambodia rejected these accusations, claiming that the Thai soldiers had strayed from agreed patrol routes into areas with unexploded ordnance from past conflicts, and reciprocated by downgrading diplomatic ties, recalling its embassy staff from Bangkok, and demanding Thai diplomatic personnel leave Cambodia. This escalation, which included Thailand closing northeastern border checkpoints, follows a similar incident on July 16 and marks a sharp deterioration in relations.
Finally, On July 24th, the Royal Thai Army requested Thai media and citizens to refrain from photographing or sharing information about military troop movements, equipment, or vehicles throughout the country. This is to prevent security information from being misused by ill-intentioned groups.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
