Thailand-Cambodia News Highlights: Trump calls for ceasefire as clashes enter third day; India says it is ‘closely monitoring’

Soon after, Trump spoke to the acting prime minister of Thailand and said that, "like Cambodia", they also want a ceasefire.
" I have just spoken to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, and it was a very good conversation. Thailand, like Cambodia, wants to have an immediate Ceasefire, and PEACE. I am now going to relay that message back to the Prime Minister of Cambodia. After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!," he said.

US President Donald Trump, on Saturday said that he had call with Cambodia Prime Minister and acting PM of Thailand and requested for a ceasefire, as the soaring tensions between the two countries continued to escalate, with the conflict entering its third day.

"The call with Cambodia has ended, but expect to call back regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say. I am trying to simplify a complex situation!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He threatened them that America would not make any trade deal with them if they did not announce a ceasefire.

When shelling began along the Thai-Cambodian border on Thursday, Komsan Prachan thought his family was far enough from the frontlines to be safe. But as explosions grew louder, his children’s school called urging parents to collect their kids. After picking up his 14-year-old daughter, 9-year-old son, and their son's friend, Komsan and his wife stopped at a gas station just 3 km from their home—moments later, an artillery shell struck the attached 7-Eleven store where the children had gone to buy snacks.

Komsan, a 40-year-old farm worker from Sisaket province, watched helplessly as the store exploded. “All I was thinking then was, my wife and kids,” he told Reuters. “I lost all hope. I could only stand and watch.” He had believed the area was a designated safe zone, with no need for bunkers or evacuation. Now grieving the loss of his entire family, he reflected on a life built with his high school sweetheart and their two children, calling them his "greatest blessing."

More than 30 people, mostly civilians, have died since the fighting erupted in the disputed border region—marking the worst escalation in over a decade. Both countries have blamed each other for starting the conflict. Over 130,000 people have been displaced, with universities and shelters overwhelmed. “The war is good for no one,” said Komsan, calling on both governments to seek peace. He accused Cambodian forces of indiscriminate shelling into civilian zones: “The war only brings loss, loss, and loss.”

The conflict marks a rare instance of armed confrontation between ASEAN member countries.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire and to withdraw their troops from the border, but requested more time before implementing the action.

The Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples, built during the Khmer Empire and now perched near the modern-day border, are revered by both Thais and Cambodians.

The Preah Vihear Temple, in particular, has been a source of diplomatic tension since the 1962 ICJ ruling granted Cambodia ownership of the structure.

However, Thailand disputes ownership of the adjacent land, arguing that historical maps and treaties support its claim.

In 2008, when Cambodia succeeded in listing Preah Vihear as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thai nationalists saw the move as a provocation, triggering renewed skirmishes.

On Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia issued an advisory for Indian nationals travelling to the country, warning them to avoid going to border areas.

“In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid travelling to the border areas,” the advisory read.

On Friday, the Indian embassy in Thailand issued a similar advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid travelling to seven provinces in Thailand.

The seven provinces include Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat.

Cambodia has called for an “immediate ceasefire” with Thailand, the country’s envoy to the United Nations has said.

“Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire — unconditionally — and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” Cambodia’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo has said.

On the other hand, Thailand’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told news agency AFP that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.

“We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far, we have not had any response,” Nikorndej told AFP.

The conflict reached the United Nations Security Council on Friday, where both Thailand and Cambodia presented their cases.

Thailand’s ambassador, Cherdchai Chaivaivid, accused Cambodia of deliberate aggression and detailed recent injuries caused by new land mines.

Cambodia, in turn, painted Thailand as the aggressor and called for global condemnation.

The UN has urged both sides to de-escalate and engage in dialogue.

Both Thailand and Cambodia have sought to frame the conflict to its diplomatic advantage.

Thailand insists that it is acting defensively, pointing to land mines allegedly planted on Thai soil and to military attacks that it claims were initiated by Cambodia.

Thai officials have emphasized their preference for bilateral resolution, accusing Phnom Penh of attempting to “internationalise” the conflict.

Cambodia, in contrast, has framed the confrontation as a clear act of aggression by Thailand.

It has called on the international community to condemn what it calls “deliberate and unlawful military attacks,” and to support its call for outside arbitration.

Cambodian diplomats have also highlighted Thailand’s refusal to recognize the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice as evidence of its unwillingness to resolve the dispute fairly.

Over 130,000 people have been displaced across Thailand and Cambodia in just three days, many fleeing in haste from villages near the border.

Local officials in Thailand’s Sisaket province say entire towns are nearly deserted, with residents abandoning homes, farms, and businesses in search of safety.

Makeshift shelters and emergency accommodations have been established in school buildings and temples, while humanitarian aid groups struggle to reach conflict zones.

In Cambodia, civilians in the northwest provinces of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear have reported fleeing under shellfire. In interviews, displaced residents have expressed fear and frustration.

The root of the current conflict lies in a centuries-old border demarcation issue that has repeatedly defied peaceful settlement.

The Thailand-Cambodia land border stretches over 800 km, much of it poorly demarcated, winding through dense jungle and dotted with ancient ruins.

These temples —particularly the 11th-century Preah Vihear and the smaller but still symbolically powerful Ta Moan Thom — lie at the heart of the dispute.

Although the International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, the surrounding territory has remained a flashpoint.

In 2008, when Cambodia sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the temple, tensions reignited violently.

Thailand disputes the ownership of land adjacent to the temples, citing maps drawn by colonial-era French cartographers as inconsistent.

Cambodia, on the other hand, views any challenge to the ICJ ruling as an attack on its sovereignty.

What is the situation now?

Over 30 people have died and more than 130,000 have been displaced since the violence began, including civilians on both sides of the border.

The most recent flare-up on Saturday occurred in Thailand’s Trat province, a coastal area more than 100 km from the initial confrontation zones.

While both Bangkok and Phnom Penh claim to have acted in self-defence, they are trading accusations of deliberate aggression.

The Thai government reported the use of newly planted land mines on its territory, while Cambodia described Thai incursions as “unlawful military attacks.”

Thailand’s army launched strikes on Cambodian military sites along their disputed border on Thursday (July 24), amidst recent deadly clashes which killed at least 11 Thai civilians.

The two nations had downgraded their diplomatic relations a day earlier, after accusing each other of inciting violence. The exchange of fire has roots not only in their colonial history, including disputes over Hindu temples, but also in recent events. Here is what to know.

Cambodia has asked for an “immediate ceasefire” with Thailand, the country’s envoy to the United Nations said.

Bangkok has also signalled an openness to talks after two days of deadly clashes that have left 32 dead and thousands displaced.

At least 13 Cambodians have been killed, while at least six soldiers and 13 civilians, including children, have died in Thailand.

The Indian Embassy in Cambodia issued an advisory Friday urging Indian nationals to avoid travelling to border areas as clashes intensify.

It also released a phone number and email to contact at in case of any emergency.

“In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may approach the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh at +855 92881676 or email cons.phnompenh@mea.gov.in” 

At the center of the dispute is an 11th-century Hindu temple known as Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, which both Bangkok and Phnom Penh have long claimed.

The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand has continued to assert claims over the surrounding land.

Longstanding tensions erupted into fighting after a land mine explosion along the disputed border area wounded five Thai soldiers on Wednesday.

The UN Security Council held an emergency closed-door meeting Friday in New York. Malaysia, which chairs the 10-nation regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to the hostilities and offered to mediate.

While the council did not issue a formal statement, a diplomat said all 15 members urged both sides to deescalate, exercise restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire and troop withdrawal from the border but requested more time to implement it, according to Malaysia’s Bernama national news agency.

At least 13 Cambodians have been killed in fighting with Thailand, while at least six soldiers and 13 civilians, including children, have died in Thailand, bringing the total death toll on both sides to 32.

On its second day, the border fighting between the two nations has forced tens of thousands to seek refuge, raising fears of a prolonged conflict.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalated dramatically on Friday, with both sides trading heavy artillery and rocket fire in the deadliest confrontation in over a decade. At least 15 people have died — 14 in Thailand and one in Cambodia — while more than 120,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. -Read More

Cambodia and Thailand, long-time neighbours with a history of border disputes, have found themselves in yet another spiral of violence—this time deadlier than most in recent memory.

But what made this skirmish escalate so dramatically?

Tensions sharply worsened last month when former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly leaked a phone call with Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In the call, Paetongtarn addressed Hun Sen as "uncle" and was heard criticising a Thai military commander. The leak caused a political storm in Thailand and led to Paetongtarn’s suspension. The country’s Constitutional Court is currently considering her removal from office.

Why Hun Sen chose to leak the call—despite his family's decades-long close ties with the Shinawatras—remains unclear. But the fallout has now spilled onto the battlefield, with diplomatic channels collapsing and violence surging along the border. Read more about the call HERE.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have sharply escalated in recent months, with a series of border clashes and diplomatic tit-for-tat moves straining relations.

Thailand on Friday declared martial law in eight of its districts bordering Cambodia, as the countries traded strikes in a second deadly day of clashes.

Apichart Sapprasert, commander of the military's Border Defense Command for Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, announced that martial law has been imposed in seven districts of Chanthaburi and one district of Trat, according to AFP.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has said he supported a ceasefire proposal put forward by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, but claimed that Thailand withdrew its support after initially agreeing to the plan.

In a Facebook post, Hun Manet called Thailand’s move “regrettable” and said, “The key to resolving the ongoing armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia lies in the Thai side’s genuine willingness to accept a ceasefire.”

Pen Bona, head of Cambodia’s government spokesperson unit, has accused Thailand of launching heavy attacks and targeting civilians amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours.

“Cambodia is the victim of aggression by the Thai military, whose intention is to fulfil an expansionist ambition to seize Cambodian land,” he said during a news conference, as reported by Cambodian media.

“Moreover, Thai armed forces have used heavy weapons, including dropping bombs on civilian targets, causing serious suffering in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces. This is a brutal territorial ambition that blatantly violates international law,” he added.

Meanwhile, Thailand has levelled similar accusations, claiming Cambodian forces attacked civilian areas and caused casualties. Both countries continue to blame each other for sparking the latest round of violence.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), had earlier offered to facilitate talks between the two countries.

"I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward," Anwar wrote on Facebook late Thursday.

Thailand’s foreign ministry has signalled it is open to diplomatic talks with Cambodia to end the current border clashes, a report by The Guardian said.

“We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that…” foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told AFP.

He added that there were signs the fighting was beginning to ease.

Malaysia, who currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have previously called for a ceasefire.

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as their worst fighting in over a decade intensified and spread to new areas, despite international calls for a ceasefire.

At least 16 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in the escalating border battle.

Both sides have blamed each other for starting the conflict and on Friday ratcheted up the rhetoric, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of deliberately targeting civilians and Cambodia alleging Thailand was using cluster munitions, a controversial and widely condemned ordnance.

Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Cambodia had launched attacks on multiple fronts and Thailand was defending its territory. (Reuters)

Clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have taken place in 12 locations along their disputed border, a Thai military official said on Friday, indicating a broadening of the conflict that erupted a day earlier.

Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, a military spokesperson, told a press conference Cambodia had continued to use heavy weapons.

The Thai military had on Thursday reported clashes in six locations. (Reuters)

The Indian High Commission in Thailand Friday issued an advisory for its nationals in the country, urging them to avoid travelling to seven provinces amid ongoing unrest along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

"In view of the situation near the Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travellers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT Newsroom," the Indian embassy said in an X post.

Attaching a post by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, it said that the places mentioned "are not recommended" for travelling. The tourism authority said that "several attractions" in Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces are not recommended for visiting.

Thailand has rejected mediation efforts from third countries to end the ongoing conflict with Cambodia, insisting that Phnom Penh cease attacks and resolve the situation only through bilateral talks, Reuters reported, quoting the foreign ministry.

Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej said that the United States, China and Malaysia, which is the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, have offered to facilitate dialogue, but Bangkok is seeking a bilateral solution to the conflict

"I don't think we need any mediation from a third country yet," Nikorndej said.

As many as tens of thousands of people sought refuge on Friday as border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered a second day, heightening fears of a broader conflict. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later Friday in New York, while Malaysia, which chairs a regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate.

Meanwhile, the Thai Health Ministry on Friday said more than 58,000 have fled from villages to temporary shelters in four affected Thai border provinces, while Cambodian authorities said more than 4,000 people have evacuated from areas near the border.

Tensions over a disputed border area erupted into fighting after a land mine explosion along the border on wounded five Thai soldiers on Wednesday.