Cambodian-Thai Border Conflict Escalates: 24 Killed, UN Intervenes Urgently

On July 25th, the conflict at the border between Cambodia and Thailand escalated sharply. According to the latest report from Thailand's Second Army Region Security Department, since July 24th to the early morning of today, at least 24 people have died on the Cambodian side, including soldiers, civilians, and religious personnel. Particularly in the southern area of Ta Muen Thom Temple and the frontline of Ta Moan Temple, the Cambodian side confirmed the deaths of 3 soldiers and 1 monk, as well as several civilians.

Fighting erupted at multiple points in the ancient temple area, with the Cambodian side launching rocket and artillery attacks on targets within Thailand, including civilian facilities such as hospitals and gas stations, triggering a strong response from Thailand. The Thai military promptly deployed F-16 fighter jets to carry out airstrikes, while also conducting ground strikes on multiple Cambodian positions, launching a comprehensive counterattack against Cambodian military positions.

Currently, over one hundred thousand civilians have been forced to evacuate to four border provinces in Thailand, with official Thai statistics reporting 14 to 16 deaths, mostly civilians, including an 8-year-old boy, and dozens injured.

The Cambodian side has not yet released its domestic casualty figures, but local officials confirmed that at least one local civilian has died, with several others injured, and 1500 households have been evacuated to the interior of Oddar Meanchey Province in Cambodia.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency closed-door meeting on July 25th in New York at 3 PM local time (2 AM on July 26th, Cambodia time) to specifically review the Cambodian-Thai conflict. This request was initiated by a letter from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, emphasizing that Thailand's military actions pose a severe threat to regional peace and calling on the international community to prevent further escalation.

The rotating chair of ASEAN, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, issued a statement last night stating that he had spoken with leaders from both Cambodia and Thailand, urging an immediate ceasefire and resolution of the crisis through dialogue. Although both sides have taken a tough stance, they have expressed willingness to "consider" the ceasefire proposal, providing a window for negotiations.

This conflict is generally considered the most severe military standoff in Southeast Asia in recent years. Thailand's accusations against Cambodia for using heavy weaponry and artillery to attack civilian facilities are widespread, while Cambodia insists that its actions are legitimate self-defense provoked by Thai military aggression. Both sides have expelled each other's diplomats, relations have dropped to the lowest point, and all borders have been closed.

Overall, the Cambodian-Thai conflict has evolved from localized military attacks to widespread combat, with casualties continuing to rise. Despite the intervention of the United Nations and ASEAN seeking mediation, whether a short-term ceasefire and effective dialogue can be achieved remains uncertain. Regional stability and humanitarian protection have become urgent tasks facing all parties involved.