Thailand calls on citizens to exit Cambodia as violence along border deepens

The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh has issued a warning to Thai nationals in Cambodia, urging them to leave the country as border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia intensify.

The Embassy said it has been “closely monitoring the escalating tensions” and warned that the situation could worsen, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“There is a growing likelihood that the conflict may prolong and expand further,” it said, referring to ongoing skirmishes along multiple stretches of the shared border.

The advisory called on Thai citizens currently residing or staying temporarily in Cambodia to depart “as soon as it is safely possible,” unless they have urgent matters.

It also urged Thais to avoid travelling to Cambodia unless necessary until the security situation improves.

Thai authorities said airstrikes and ground clashes have occurred in recent days, with both sides blaming each other for the outbreak of violence that has already resulted in casualties.

On July 24, clashes erupted near the Ta Muen Thom temple. Thai authorities said their forces came under attack and responded with airstrikes using F-16 fighter jets against Cambodian positions.

Cambodia accused Thailand of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital. The violence left at least nine Thai civilians dead and forced the evacuation of over 40,000 residents near the border.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have simmered for decades, rooted in long-standing disputes over border demarcation inherited from colonial-era maps.

The area surrounding historic temples—particularly Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom—has often been a flashpoint, despite rulings by the International Court of Justice in favour of Cambodia.

The current crisis escalated in late May 2025, when a Cambodian soldier was killed near the tri-border region known as the Emerald Triangle. Both sides blamed each other, prompting troop reinforcements and a breakdown in diplomatic dialogue.

Efforts at bilateral negotiations stalled, while Cambodia moved to involve the International Court of Justice—an approach rejected by Thailand, which insisted on direct talks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev