Christ’s words about the signs of his return seems to be developing, as we’ll have wars and rumors of wars. We had the strange and brief war between Pakistan and India, Israel and Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Ukraine… And there are rumblings of China and Taiwan being on the horizon, which would be a great distraction for China’s leadership. And the linked story had videos I didn’t include.
Thai fighter jets attacked targets in Cambodia in response to a deadly rocket attack on July 24, in what could be the opening of an all-out war between the two neighboring countries.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been mounting for months. In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief clash between Thai and Cambodian troops in a contested border area of the Emerald Triangle, where Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos meet.
Both sides said that they were acting in self-defense at the time. Despite calls for escalations, the border saw a military build up on both sides.
Thailand took control of border checkpoints, imposed restrictions on crossings and threatened to cut electricity and internet to Cambodia’s border towns. In response, Cambodia stopped imports of Thai fruit and vegetables and banned Thai movies and TV dramas.
On July 1, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from duties after the leak of a phone call she had with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen in June, in which she appeared to criticize the actions of the Thai military during the border clashes.
Sen, who ruled Cambodia for almost 40 years, stepped down in 2023 and handed power to his son Hun Manet. But he remains a hugely influential figure in Cambodian politics: He serves as senate president and was a friend and ally of Paetongtarn’s father, the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Recent landmine explosions prompted both countries to downgrade relations with each other and recall diplomatic staff. On July 16, a landmine explosion in the Chong Bok area in the Thai province of Ubon Ratchathani injured three Thai soldiers, including one who lost a leg.
Another incident was reported in the area of Nam Yuen in the same province on July 23, when a blast injured five Thai soldiers, with one also losing his leg.
On July 24, the situation got out of control with clashes being reported along the entire length of the disputed frontier between Cambodia and Thailand.
Thai military officials said that the clashes, involving small arms and heavy weapons, spread along the frontline affecting a total of six locations. This includes sites in Surin province, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani.
The violence began in the morning at the ancient, disputed Ta Muen Thom temple site in Surin, which is also claimed by Cambodia. Both countries accused their neighbor of firing the first shot.
Though Cambodia hasn’t acknowledged all six locations, its Defense Ministry said all affected areas “are within Cambodian territory … and are actively protected by Cambodian forces.”
Later, the Thai military accused Cambodia of firing BM-21 Grad 122 mm rockets at a busy gas station in the town of Ban Phue in Sisaket. The Thai Health Ministry said that at least 11 civilians were killed in Cambodia’s attacks on Thailand. It is unclear how many of them were killed in Ban Phue.
In response to the deadly shelling, F-16 fighter jets of the Thai air force attacked two Cambodian regional military headquarters.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry has confirmed that Thailand’s airstrikes hit its territory, and said it would “respond decisively.”
“[An] F-16 fighter jet dropped (two) bombs on the road leading to Wat Kaew Seekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda,” it said in a statement, referring to an area on Cambodia and Thailand’s disputed border. “All of these areas are within Cambodian territory.”
Thailand and Cambodia share a 817-kilometer border, largely mapped by the French when they controlled Cambodia as a colony.
Cambodia has previously sought a ruling from the United Nations International Court of Justice over disputed areas, including the site of the ongoing clash. However, Thailand does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and claims that some areas along the border were never fully demarcated, including the sites of several ancient temples.
With 361,000 active-duty personnel, Thailand’s military is more than double the size of that of Cambodia, which has 170,300 active personnel.
Thailand is also way more armed. The Thai air force’s equipment includes at least 11 modern Swedish Gripen fighter jets and dozens of older United States-made F-16 and F-5 fighter jets. On the other side, Cambodia has no combat-capable air force.
Thailand also has dozens of main battle tanks, including 60 modern, Chinese-made VT-4 tanks, and hundreds of older, U.S.-made tanks. Cambodia has around 200 old Chinese- and Soviet-made tanks.
In addition, the Thai military boasts more than 600 artillery pieces, including at least 56 powerful 155mm weapons and more than 550 105mm towed guns. Cambodia has only a dozen 155mm guns with around 400 smaller towed artillery pieces.
The situation is not that different in the sea. The Thai navy operates 75 warships, including frigates, corvettes, mine warfare vessels, and amphibious assault ships. Meanwhile, the Cambodian navy only has small patrol boats.
The ongoing clashes could quickly escalate into an all-out war. China, which enjoys good relations with both Thailand and Cambodia, has already offered to mediate. Nevertheless, the situation will likely get much worse before any real de-escalation.