Armed clashes have erupted between Thailand and Cambodia along a disputed area of their border and have left at least two dead.
Thailand’s military has deployed an F-16 fighter jet against Cambodian forces, according to the Thai army.
"We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon said.
Two Cambodian provinces came under shelling from Thailand’s military, according to Cambodia’s former premier Hun Sen.
A livestream from Thailand’s side depicted residents fleeing their homes for shelter in a concrete bunker as explosions echoed nearby.
Both militaries have been accused of firing the first shots in armed clashes along the border.
Suksuwanon claimed Cambodia used heavy weaponry, including BM21 rocket launchers, during its attack; however, Cambodia’s defence ministry disputes these claims, saying Thai troops carried out an unprovoked incursion, forcing them to respond in self-defence.
The clash comes after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok after a second soldier in a week lost a limb to landmines in the disputed area.
Hun Sen ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades and called for calm in a Facebook post, urging Cambodians to place their trust in the country’s armed forces and government.
Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the situation was delicate.
“The situation requires careful handling, and we must act in accordance with international law,” he said.
"We will do our best to protect our sovereignty.”
Thais have been told to leave Cambodia “as soon as possible” unless they have urgent reasons to remain.
Around 40,000 civilians from 86 Thai villages have been evacuated to safer locations, according to a Thai official.
Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty over many points of their 87km land border for more than a century, leading to a series of clashes and dozens of deaths, including a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs has warned of growing tensions, urging travellers that border disputes were a major concern.
“Due to ongoing dispute along the Cambodia-Thailand border, the closure of all land border crossing points was announced on 24 June 2025,” it wrote.
“This situation can change at short notice. Monitor local media for the latest updates and follow the advice of local authorities.”
