Thailand and Cambodia exchanged artillery and rocket fire for a second day on Friday, in the most violent border conflict between the two countries in over 13 years.
Fighting between the two countries first erupted early Thursday near the Ta Moan Thom temple, and quickly spread to six locations along the disputed border. According to Thai army spokesperson Col. Richa Sooksuwanon, the latest round of fighting began at 4:30 a.m. Friday, when Cambodian troops opened fire, prompting a Thai artillery response.
Friday’s clashes saw Thailand, a U.S. treaty ally, and its smaller neighbor, Cambodia, exchange small arms and rocket fire.
Footage circulating on social media shows a Cambodian “Grad” multiple rocket launcher firing toward Thailand from the middle of a highway, with civilian vehicles passing nearby.
A Cambodian “Grad” multiple rocket launcher opened fire on Thailand directly from the highway, in the middle of traffic.
🇹🇭🇰🇭 pic.twitter.com/C3RhAs1xg6
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 25, 2025
Additional footage shows 22mm unguided artillery rockets launched by the Royal Cambodian Army’s multiple-launch rocket systems, soaring through the sky toward targets near the Cambodia–Thailand border.
122mm unguided-artillery rockets fired by multiple-launch rocket systems of the Royal Cambodian Army, seen flying through the sky today towards their targets near the border between Cambodia and Thailand. pic.twitter.com/sJIEhAVyHA
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 25, 2025
Meanwhile, separate footage shows Thai soldiers opening fire on Cambodian troops with machine guns, reportedly pushing Cambodian positions along the border into retreat.
🇹🇭 #Thailand – 🇰🇭 #Cambodia: Thai soldiers engaging Cambodian troops with machine gun fire, reportedly suppressing Cambodian positions on the border.
via @war_noir pic.twitter.com/qeMlflG3l2
— POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) July 25, 2025
A Thai helicopter was also seen unleashing rounds from across the border, targeting Cambodian positions below.
‼️🇰🇭 🇹🇭 BIG | Thai helicopter ripping rounds from across the border, and down onto Cambodian positions https://t.co/CWLS2wdw9Y pic.twitter.com/zgwBOHSyA4
— Visioner (@visionergeo) July 25, 2025
A Thai military official said Friday that attacks have been reported in 12 locations along the disputed border, up from six the previous day.
“The situation has intensified and could escalate into a state of war,” Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Friday.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday accused Thailand of backing out of a ceasefire plan proposed by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim. He described the reversal as “regrettable.”
“The key to resolving the current armed conflict is the genuine willingness of the Thai side to accept a ceasefire,” he said in a statement.
Thailand’s foreign ministry later said it agreed in principle with Malaysia’s ceasefire proposal and would consider the plan that is based on “appropriate on-the-ground conditions.”
“It must be stated that throughout the day, Cambodian forces have continued their indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory,” the ministry said in a post on X. “Cambodia’s actions demonstrate a lack of good faith and continue to place civilians in danger.”
The humanitarian toll continues to rise, with authorities reporting at least 14 deaths in Thailand and one in Cambodia. Thailand has evacuated more than 138,000 people from conflict zones, while Cambodia says over 4,000 residents have fled its northern provinces.
