11 Thai civilians killed, health minister says
Thailand’s health minister has said that 11 Thai civilians have now been killed in the country’s conflict with Cambodia, Reuters reports.
Somsak Thepsuthin condemned Cambodia’s attack on a hospital, adding that such actions can be considered war crimes and it must take responsibility.
Thailand’s foreign ministry said earlier that Cambodian troops fired “heavy artillery” on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas including a hospital, leading to civilian casualties.
The health minister also called on Cambodia to cease the violence that was currently raging.
Key events
Malaysia prime minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday expressed concern about a rapidly escalating border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, saying he will speak with the leaders of both countries by the end of the day, Reuters reports.
Anwar told reporters:
The least we can expect from them is to just stand down and hopefully to try and enter into negotiations.
Malaysia is the current chair of the south-east Asian bloc Asean, in which Thailand and Cambodia are also members.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
The Royal Thai Army has given some further detail on today’s fatalities.
Six civilians were killed near a petrol station in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province.
Ten civilians were also injured at the petrol station site.
A further two civilians, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed in Kap Choeng district, Surin province. Two civilians injured at this site were transferred to Kap Choeng hospital.
It also cited attacks in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province, resulting in 1 fatality and 1 injury.
One person was injured in Ban Kruad district, Buriram province, it said.
The army said in a statement:
The Royal Thai Army condemns these violent acts against civilian targets by the Cambodian side and is prepared to undertake military operations to defend our sovereignty and citizens from these acts that violate humanitarian principles to the fullest extent.
Cambodia has long been a staunch ally of China, receiving billions of dollars in investments.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said:
We are deeply concerned over the current developments (and) hope both sides can properly resolve issues through dialogue and consultations.
Good-neighbourliness and properly handling differences are in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides.
Guo said on Thursday that China would adopt a “fair and impartial position” in the clashes, however.
Beijing “has and will continue to in its own way do its best to promote peace and dialogue, and play a constructive role in promoting the easing and cooling down of the situation”, Guo added.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
Here is the full version of the latest statement from Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs.
It accuses Cambodia of laying landmines that have injured Thai military personnel over recent days, and of attacking Thai military bases and civilian areas on Thursday.
The Royal Thai Government condemns in the strongest terms the 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 while Thai soldiers were patrolling on 16 and 23 July 2025. On the morning of 24 July 2025, heavy artillery was fired into the Thai military base and continued throughout the morning. The attacks also targeted Thai civilian areas, including a hospital, resulting in civilian casualties and fatalities.
Therefore, taking into consideration the severity of the situation as a result of Cambodia’s intentional and premeditated act against Thailand, the Royal Thai Government has decided to downgrade our diplomatic relations and recall the Thai Ambassador to Cambodia back, as well as requests the Government of Cambodia to recall its Ambassador to Thailand, respectively.
The Royal Thai Government urges Cambodia to cease its repeated act which constitutes a severe violation of international law. Such actions fundamentally contradict the principles of good neighborly relations and good faith, and will further undermine Cambodia’s reputation and credibility on the global stage.
The Royal Thai Government calls upon Cambodia to take responsibility for the incidents that have occurred, cease attacks against civilian and military targets, and stop all actions that violate Thailand’s sovereignty. The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand’s sovereignty in accordance with international law and principles.
Footage shows firefighters battling to extinguish a blaze at a petrol station in Kantharatak district, in Thailand’s border region.
A Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia overnight as weeks of tensions over a border dispute escalated into clashes.
11 Thai civilians killed, health minister says
Thailand’s health minister has said that 11 Thai civilians have now been killed in the country’s conflict with Cambodia, Reuters reports.
Somsak Thepsuthin condemned Cambodia’s attack on a hospital, adding that such actions can be considered war crimes and it must take responsibility.
Thailand’s foreign ministry said earlier that Cambodian troops fired “heavy artillery” on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas including a hospital, leading to civilian casualties.
The health minister also called on Cambodia to cease the violence that was currently raging.
China’s foreign ministry on Thursday said it is deeply concerned about ongoing developments along the Thailand-Cambodia border and hopes that both sides will properly address issues through dialogue and consultations, Reuters reports.
China will play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference, adding that China upholds a just and impartial stance.
Thailand condemned Cambodia on Thursday as “inhumane, brutal and war-hungry”, accusing it of targeting homes and civilian infrastructure with artillery in clashes over a disputed border, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.
Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub called on the international community to condemn Cambodia for its artillery barrage, which has killed at least one person and wounded several more.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet has requested the UN security council convene an “urgent meeting” over Thursday’s clashes.
Hun Manet writes in a letter to Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, president of the security council for July 2025:
Considering the recent extremely grave aggressions by Thailand, which have gravely threatened peace and stability in the region, I earnestly request you to convene an urgent meeting of the Security Council to stop Thailand’s aggression.
The letter accuses Thailand of “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian positions along border areas.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have blamed each other for the clashes on Thursday.
Nine Thai civilians killed in conflict, army says
An armed conflict that erupted on Thursday between Cambodia and Thailand has killed nine Thai civilians across three provinces, the Thai army said, Reuters reports.
Those killed included an 8-year-old boy.
A further 14 people in Thailand have been injured as a result of the fighting, the army said in a statement.
