Cambodia demands the “immediate cessation of fire” with Thailand, while the bloody confrontations continued for the third day
The soldiers of the Thai Royal Army are photographed on armored vehicles on a road in the province of Chachoengsao, on July 24, 2025. Line Credit: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP / Profimedia
Tens of thousands of people living in the areas near the borders of the two countries were relocated because of the confrontations, the bloodiest of the last decade, which caused 19 victims in Thailand and 13 in Cambodia, according to The Guardian.
Cambodia wants the “immediate cessation of fire” with Thailand, said Cherdchai Chaivat, the Thai ambassador to the UN, while the fights continued for the third consecutive day. He appealed to cease the fire after an emergency reunion held behind closed doors on Friday evening in New York.
Cambodia to “immediately cease all the hostilities and acts of aggression and resume the dialogue in good faith,” the official urged.
For his part, the Ambassador of Cambodia to the UN, Chhea Keo, said, after the New York meeting, that his country “requested an immediate armistice – without conditions – and we also request the peaceful resolution of the dispute.”
On Saturday morning, the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia accused Thailand of drawing five heavy artillery howitzers in several locations in Pursat province, in the southern part of the common border, condemning this “act of unprovoked and premeditated aggression.”
For his part, Thailand accused Cambodia of initiating an attack in the neighboring province of Trat and said that the Thai naval forces have successfully rejected the “incursion”.
The conflict escalated
The frontal dispute between Cambodia and Thailand dates back more than a century, from the disagreements regarding the maps of the colonial period. The tensions are high since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in an exchange of fires, but they intensified even more this week, when Thai soldiers were injured by Mine, which Thai officials said they were recently planted-an accusation that Cambodia denied.
Thailand responded by recalling his ambassador to Cambodia and said he would expel Cambodgia's envoy to Bangkok, and on Thursday morning battles broke out along the border. Both parties have accused each other of opening the first fire and violated international norms.
After the outbreaks, the UN Secretary General appealed to the “biggest restraint”. Malaysia, which presides over the regional block of both countries, has appealed to both sides to withdraw and offered to mediate. The United States and China also expressed their concern about the evolution of the situation.
