Name: Thailand, Cambodia border clashes turn deadly as troops trade heavy fire | DW News
Uploaded: 2025-07-24T16:48:32.000Z
Duration: 3 min 42 s
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Fighting has erupted along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

The Thai military says that at least nine people have been killed.

Thailand accuses Cambodia's military of launching attacks on civilian areas, a sharp escalation in the long-standing border dispute.

Cambodia says its troops acted in self-defence after what they called an unprovoked incursion by Thai forces.

Thailand has now closed all border crossings with Cambodia, while Phnom Penh says that it was downgrading its diplomatic ties with Bangkok, deepening fears of a wider conflict in the region.

Let's bring in Tommy Walker, a correspondent who is following this story for us from Bangkok.

Tommy, what more can you tell us about the incident?

Well, this morning, you know, conflict broke out between Thai and Cambodian troops, and that's obviously escalated as the day has gone on.

As mentioned, Thailand and Cambodia have long had border disputes.

It's been simmering for a few months now.

Most of the borders were closed and troops have been amassed at the border.

We've seen tens of thousands of Thai people evacuated from the border villages and towns.

As mentioned, there's several civilians that have been killed.

That number might increase as the day goes on.

And yeah, the exchange of fire has just gotten worse.

I mean, it probably began with troops shooting, you know, with guns.

But now we've seen Cambodia fire rockets into Thailand in civilian areas.

The reports of a hospital and a petrol station being attacked.

And Thailand has also deployed its fighter jets to sort of counter these Cambodian strikes.

And it's, I mean, although this situation has been simmering for weeks and months, I myself was there two weeks ago at the border.

Today, it's certainly escalated and it's caught everyone a little bit by surprise.

Periodic clashes between the two countries have flared up this year.

Well, Thailand and Cambodia, as mentioned, they've had long had border disputes.

In May, there was a brief exchange of gunfire, which left one Cambodian soldier killed.

That then led to both countries, you know, amassing troops along their borders and closing crossings.

And then in recent days, Thailand had accused Cambodia of planting landmines along the border.

And these landmines have actually injured several Thai soldiers.

And then that's led to the downgrading of diplomatic relations.

The ambassadors have been recalled and both countries have said for their citizens to leave each other's countries.

It's just this week that obviously things have sort of went to the next level.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for Cambodia to stop attacking and shelling Thai civilian areas.

And now it just remains to be seen about where this conflict is going to go next.

It's long been in the works, but today is obviously the most prominent day.

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Thailand, Cambodia border clashes turn deadly as troops trade heavy fire | DW News

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