The Thai Army reported a firefight on the morning of 24 July near Ta Muen Temple, with no reports of injuries or fatalities.

The Army posted on its Facebook page that units stationed near the temple said they heard the sound of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which it believed to have come from Cambodia, hovering near the front of the temple, although the units could not see the UAV.

The Army claimed that 6 fully armed Cambodian soldiers, including one with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) then advanced towards the barbed wire fence near the Thai operating base.. Thai troops maintaining border surveillance shouted warnings to avoid escalating the situation, the Army said.

The Thai Army said that the Cambodian troops opened fire from around 200 metres east of the Thai operating base at Ta Muen temple. However, the Khmer Times reported Cambodian Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Mali Socheata as saying that the Thai military launched an assault on Cambodian forces, who returned fire in response to an “unprovoked incursion.”

Thai and Cambodian troops continued to clash along the border. The 2nd Army Region said that BM-21 rockets were fired at Prasat Don Tual in Si Saket and a village in Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, and that Cambodian troops advanced towards Ta Kwai temple in Surin.

The 2nd Army Region reported that at around 10.50, 6 F-16 fighter jets were deployed from Ubon Ratchathani and conducted an air strike against two Cambodian military targets without identifying these targets.

At 11.30, the 2nd Army Region posted a video clip showing a fire at the Seven-Eleven store at a petrol station in Kantharalak District Sisaket Province. It said that the damage was caused by a BM-21 rocket fired by Cambodia.

There were also reports of an artillery strike on Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin. No casualties were reported.

Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation, said at a press conference around 12.00 on 24 July that clashes occurred in at least 6 areas following the clash at Ta Muen temple. He also said that all border checkpoints along the Thai-Cambodian borders had been closed.

The Thai Army issued a statement at around 2 pm condemning Cambodia’s attack on Thai civilians, saying that Thailand stands ready to defend its sovereignty and citizens. According to the Army, 9 people had been killed across four provinces, including an 8-year-old boy killed after an artillery shell landed in a village in Kap Choeng District, and 14 had been injured. Of this number, 6 were killed at the petrol station in Kantharalak, where 10 others were injured.

Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns attack

On 24 July, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued four key messages in its official statement in response to the recent Thailand-Cambodia situation.

The Thai government condemned Cambodia in the strongest terms for violations of Thailand’s sovereignty and international law, following the laying of anti-personnel landmines within Thai territory that caused injuries to Thai military personnel and for firing heavy artillery into the Thai military base.

The severity of the situation indicated that Cambodia apparently intended to act against Thailand, so the Thai Government had decided to downgrade diplomatic ties and recall its Ambassador to Cambodia, as well as requesting the Cambodian government to recall its Ambassador to Thailand.

The Thai government urged Cambodia to cease its repeated actions which constitute a severe violation of international law. Such actions fundamentally contradict the principles of good neighbourly relations and will further undermine Cambodia's reputation and credibility on the global stage.

The Thai government called on Cambodia to take responsibility for the incidents, cease attacks against civilian and military targets, and stop all actions that violate Thailand’s sovereignty. The Thai government is also prepared to intensify self-defence measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attacks.

Cambodia downgrades diplomatic ties with Thailand

The Khmer Times reported the Cambodian government’s decision to downgrade its diplomatic relations with Thailand “to the lowest level” in response to Thailand’s decision to reduce ties with Cambodia to the level of Second Chargé d’Affaires. All Cambodian diplomatic staff at the Embassy in Bangkok have been ordered to return home, while Thailand has been instructed to arrange the departure of its diplomatic personnel from Cambodia.

Thailand announced its decision to reduce ties with Cambodia on the evening of 23 July after five military personnel were injured by landmines along the Thai-Cambodian borders. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said that Thailand was recalling its ambassador to Cambodia, and would expel Cambodia’s ambassador from Thailand.

The 2nd Army Region also announced the closure of four border crossings in Surin, Sisaket, Buriram and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, as well as the tourist attractions of Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples, effective from Thursday 24 July.

The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh  recommended that Thai nationals visiting or resident in Cambodia leave the country as soon as possible, and refrain from traveling to Cambodia unless absolutely necessary.

Cambodia urges UNSC intervention

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet filed an official request with the President of the UN Security Council, requesting it to convene an urgent meeting to address Thai aggression.

In its letter, Cambodia said that the Thai armed forces “launched unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian positions, noting that Thailand made “baseless and unfounded allegations” against Cambodia over the first landmine explosion.

Hun Manet also emphasized that Cambodia had no option but to respond in self defence to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa happens to be attending the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. It was reported that during a video meeting between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, airline representatives, and other relevant agencies, Maris said that he met with high-level representatives at the Forum including the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council for July.

Maris said that he clarified Thailand’s stance on Cambodia’s action and stressed that Thailand is committed to resolving the dispute through bilateral mechanisms. He said that Cambodia’s action, especially the attacks on civilian locations, violated Thailand’s sovereignty. The Thai government is prepared to consider escalating measures if military attacks continue.

Thai PM condemns Cambodia

Suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued an official statement condemning Cambodia for its use of violence and acts of aggression along the Thai border, in which the Cambodian side initiated the use of arms and fired into Thai territory, which impacted both officials and innocent civilians.

“Thailand has made every effort to engage in diplomatic dialogue in order to avoid confrontation, prevent further escalation of the situation and avoid losses by exercising patience and restraint while remaining committed to peaceful means. We firmly believe that peace is the best path to resolving conflicts between nations,” said the PM.

Senate committee condemns attack

The Senate Standing Committee on Military and National Security Affairs issued a statement condemning Cambodia’s attacks as “beyond what the Thai people can tolerate or accept,” and that it was “dishonourable and cowardly” to use heavy weapons and anti-personnel landmines.

The Committee “denounce[s] the Cambodian leadership for its lack of conscience and shame in resorting to violence.” It expresses “deep concern” for the safety and wellbeing of Thai citizens living along the border and says that it “stands in unwavering solidarity with the brave Thai military personnel”.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives opened a secret session discussing the border conflict after 7 motions were filed by both government and opposition MPs.

People’s Party MP Rangsiman Rome proposed that the Acting Prime Minister and the House Speaker contact Malaysia, which currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship, to inform it of the situation. Since a hospital has been hit, Thailand should also file a complaint with the UN Security Council because it might be seen as a perpetrator if Cambodia filed a complaint first. He also said he believes Cambodia’s goal is to take Thailand to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) because Cambodian troops are stationed at historic sites, which could have consequences if Thailand attacks them.

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim called on Thai and Cambodian leaders to order their troops to stand down and pursue peace talks.