Thailand-Cambodia Border Dispute Flares Up Again, Deadly Clash Leaves Multiple Thai Casualties | WPN World People News

Thailand and Cambodia have recently reignited military conflict over a disputed border area. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Defense, intense fighting broke out early on the 24th in the Phra Viharn mountainous region near the Preah Vihear Temple, resulting in 12 Thai soldiers killed and 14 wounded. Casualties on the Cambodian side have yet to be officially confirmed.

Reports indicate that the clash was triggered when Cambodian troops entered a buffer zone claimed by Thailand as its sovereign territory. The standoff quickly escalated into an exchange of gunfire and artillery. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions, prompting the evacuation of local residents; hundreds have since sought temporary shelter.

Thai Prime Minister Payung Chan-o-cha convened an emergency national security meeting, condemning Cambodia for "violating sovereignty" and vowing to "defend territorial integrity through diplomatic and military means." Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense accused Thailand of firing first and insisted its troops were operating within its own territory, calling for international mediation.

Between 2008 and 2011, both countries clashed several times over sovereignty claims surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple area, leading to dozens of casualties. Although the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, disputes over the surrounding land persist.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has called for restraint from both sides and recommended launching a multilateral negotiation mechanism to prevent further escalation.