Emergency Call at the UN
Cambodia’s ambassador to the UN, Chhea Keo, asked for an immediate ceasefire without conditions after two days of heavy clashes with Thailand along their shared border, and he spoke at a private Security Council meeting on July 25, 2025, to press for an end to violence that has left at least 16 people dead and driven more than 142,000 from their homes.
How the Fighting Started
The conflict began on July 24, 2025, near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple as Thai troops saw unauthorized drones in the sky and spotted armed soldiers close to their barbed wire, and shots broke out about 200 meters from the temple entrance, and then both sides quickly brought in rocket launchers, tanks, and fighter jets to attack positions on the other side.
Toll on Civilians and Troops
Thailand reported 15 deaths—14 civilians and one soldier—and 46 wounded, while Cambodia said one man was killed and five others hurt, and among those losses was an eight-year-old boy who died when rockets struck a gas station in Sisaket province; over 138,000 people fled across four Thai provinces to schools, temples, or tents, and another 4,000 left their homes near the border in Cambodia.
Diplomatic Relations Break Down
The flare-up followed a landmine blast on July 23 that injured five Thai soldiers, and each side blamed the other for planting mines; both countries recalled diplomats, closed border crossings, and cut fuel and gas links, and tension had been building since February when Thai troops blocked Cambodians from singing their anthem at a temple and then a May clash killed a soldier.
International Response
At the UN session, the Security Council urged both nations to show restraint and find a diplomatic route, and Secretary‑General António Guterres also called for calm, while UNICEF warned that children and vital services face growing danger, and Chhea Keo said foreign backers must help to prevent more bloodshed before talks can start.
Personal Analysis
This border clash shows how quickly old disputes can flare into deadly fights when leaders lack pathways to talk, and both governments now face a test of will to keep their soldiers in check and protect civilians, and unless they return to negotiations soon, the displaced families may endure even greater hardship as they seek safety across the frontier.
Sources: timesofisrael.com
