Thai - Cambodia Conflict Thai - Cambodia clash escalates dramatically, atleast 12 dead.

[CharlieH]

 

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have dramatically escalated.

 

[John Drake]

There appears to be a vacuum at the top in both countries, with the true power bosses lurking in the shadows. Not a good time for that. Need firm voices whose words can publicly and officially mean a commitment to resolving matters.

[bannork]

red

[short-Timer]

Thailand has fighter jets that can reach PP in minutes. Cambodia only has hairycoppers. What could possibly go wrong in the land of the Rouge? Oh my. 

[bannork]

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

There appears to be a vacuum at the top in both countries, with the true power bosses lurking in the shadows. Not a good time for that. Need firm voices whose words can publicly and officially mean a commitment to resolving matters.

What is the root cause of this present conflict though?

Thailand preventing Thais gambling in Cambodia resulting in loss of income for Cambodia?

Thais cutting electricity and the internet in an attempt to close down the scam centres across the border in Cambodia?

Something else?

[John Drake]

What is the real quality of Thailand's troops? Cambodians are a lot poorer and maybe a lot more rugged????

[John Drake]

1 minute ago, bannork said:

What is the root cause of this present conflict though?

Thailand preventing Thais gambling in Cambodia resulting in loss of income for Cambodia?

Thais cutting electricity and the internet in an attempt to close down the scam centres across the border in Cambodia?

Something else?

 

Two Chinese client states having a disagreement over matters you describe that have their origin in China.

[short-Timer]

24 minutes ago, bannork said:

red

 

GPT: It appears the infographic stating Cambodia has 25 “combat aircraft” is incorrect. As of mid‑2025, the Royal Cambodian Air Force operates no fixed-wing combat aircraft. All of its aerial assets are transport or utility aircraft and helicopters—no fighters.

 

Here’s what its fleet actually consists of:

• Total aircraft: ~25

• Helicopters: about 21 in service (including Chinese Z‑9 models and Mil Mi‑8/17 variants)

• Fixed‑wing: around 4 transport/utility aircraft (such as the Xian MA60, Britten‑Norman BN‑2, Harbin Y‑12)

[flaming dragon]

Such a waste. Lovely people on both sides of a line on a map being killed due to decisions made by people who will never feel the effects.  Why is this being done? Probably a distraction. Get the Thais all whipped up and high on nationalism and perhaps they won't notice how dysfunctional the government really is. 

[Pinot]

Thailand could roll over Cambodia in a few hours. I've always thought they should go into Mirmar. Nothing to stop them. 

 

If Thailand were aggressive, it could easily take over the area. They would of course, massively screw that up.

 

That's pie in the sky. Thais. Sometimes I wonder how anything gets done here. 

[josephbloggs]

25 minutes ago, bannork said:

What is the root cause of this present conflict though?

Thailand preventing Thais gambling in Cambodia resulting in loss of income for Cambodia?

Thais cutting electricity and the internet in an attempt to close down the scam centres across the border in Cambodia?

Something else?

Hun Sen v Thaksin power struggle. Both in trouble domestically, both need this, both have dirt on each other (although seems like Hun Sen may have more on Thaksin)

Both should be in prison for their rest of their lives.

[dinsdale]

These military actions are being made by the army independent of any government direction.

[Bannoi]

33 minutes ago, bannork said:

What is the root cause of this present conflict though?

Thailand preventing Thais gambling in Cambodia resulting in loss of income for Cambodia?

Thais cutting electricity and the internet in an attempt to close down the scam centres across the border in Cambodia?

Something else?

The dispute dates back to more than a hundred years ago, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.

Things officially became hostile in 2008, when Cambodia tried to register an 11th Century temple located in the disputed area as a Unesco World Heritage Site - a move that was met with heated protest from Thailand.

There were sporadic clashes over the years which saw soldiers and civilians killed on both sides.

The latest tensions ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. This plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in more than a decade.

In the past two months, both countries have imposed border restrictions on one another. Cambodia banned imports from Thailand such as fruits and vegetables, and stopped importing power and internet services.

Both countries have also strengthened troop presence along the border in recent weeks.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80p8z0y0eko

[Gaixare]

6 minutes ago, bannork said:

What is the root cause of this present conflict though?

 

you probably don't have facebook.
In facebook for the last 1-2 years there have been some disputes/wars about cultural differences, what someone stole from someone. Successes of each nation. Hatred has been accumulating. I am only subscribed to groups on facebook about technologies that interest me, but facebook actively pushes all sorts of posts into my feed.

Unfortunately, humans are designed in such a way that they cannot live without periodic wars. Especially as long as countries/nations exist, there is a reason for war. Hatred tends to accumulate in humans and war is a good way to let off "steam of hatred".

Someday (we will not live to see it) countries will be banned and there will be only one nationality - human. Only then will wars stop. And those people of the future will see the history of our days and be surprised at what savages we were. As we are surprised at the savages of the Stone Age or the savagery of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages.

[FlorC]

7 minutes ago, Pinot said:

Thailand could roll over Cambodia in a few hours. I've always thought they should go into Mirmar. Nothing to stop them. 

 

If Thailand were aggressive, it could easily take over the area. They would of course, massively screw that up.

 

That's pie in the sky. Thais. Sometimes I wonder how anything gets done here. 

Bombing cities maybe, but a jungle war is extremely difficult.

US could not win in Vietnam.

Myanmar is a civil war in a jungle too . Unwinnable.

[BarraMarra]

Thais usually run away and accept the enemy on its land. Plus most of the Infantry are kids drafted. Your either drafted at 16 or you go into the Monks School. i'd be not wanting them watching my back in the Trenches.

[dinsdale]

8 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Thais usually run away and accept the enemy on its land. Plus most of the Infantry are kids drafted. Your either drafted at 16 or you go into the Monks School. i'd be not wanting them watching my back in the Trenches.

You wouldn't last half day with Thai troops on patrol.

[FlorC]

Better news on other websites :

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-f-16-jet-bombs-cambodian-targets-border-clash-escalates-2025-07-24/

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/geopolitical-powder-keg-erupts-thai-f-16s-strike-cambodian-targets-border-clash

[Mentors65]

next Tourist High Season is probably cancelled 

[BarraMarra]

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

You wouldn't last half day with Thai troops on patrol.

Should hope so im nearly 70. They have never won a military conlict since the japanese walked into Thailand unopossed in the 40s. Worse than the French for giving in.

[John Drake]

Will cambodia get north korean troops like putin got?

[Peter Crow]

55 minutes ago, John Drake said:

There appears to be a vacuum at the top in both countries, with the true power bosses lurking in the shadows. Not a good time for that. Need firm voices whose words can publicly and officially mean a commitment to resolving matters.

Dunno.. how about the two armies actually fighting over their share in the [regional] gambling business?

[dinsdale]

Thai govt. makes "war room" for a storm but doesn't appear to have one for a war.

[dinsdale]

8 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Should hope so im nearly 70. They have never won a military conlict since the japanese walked into Thailand unopossed in the 40s. Worse than the French for giving in.

What post Second World War military conflicts would they be then that they have never won? As for the Japs in WWII Thailand didn't stand a chance same as Malaysia, Burma, Philippines and Singapore which was a complete cock up by the Brits.

[DezLez]

6 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Thai govt. makes "war room" for a storm but doesn't appear to have one for a war.

How would you know!

Their preparations for are secret!

Their preparations for natural phenomena should not be!!

[DezLez]

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

What post Second World War military conflicts would they be then that they have never won? As for the Japs in WWII Thailand didn't stand a chance same as Malaysia, Burma, Philippines and Singapore which was a complete cock up by the Brits.

That World wide war post is totally irrelevant wrt to this local two nation dispute!

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, DezLez said:

How would you know!

Their preparations for are secret!

Their preparations for natural phenomena should not be!!

The military is controlling this not the government.

[Celsius]

Omg omg only one thing matters now....will gbp reach 44 baht

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, DezLez said:

That World wide war post is totally irrelevant wrt to this local two nation dispute!

Please see the post I was responding to.

[chickenslegs]

29 minutes ago, Gaixare said:

Someday (we will not live to see it) countries will be banned and there will be only one nationality - human. Only then will wars stop. And those people of the future will see the history of our days and be surprised at what savages we were. As we are surprised at the savages of the Stone Age or the savagery of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages.

Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek) predicted that it would happen by 2266 - Not a chance IMO - but then we will move on to fighting wars with other species.