Cambodian authorities have issued urgent warnings that displaced people and major tourist regions could be endangered as Thai military bombardment strikes deeper into Cambodian territory amid a resurgent border conflict. Phnom Penh’s defence and information ministries said Thai F-16 fighter jets dropped bombs near camps sheltering displaced civilians in the Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces, pushing the violence farther south than in earlier clashes and approaching areas linked to Cambodia’s tourism industry, including sites roughly 80 km from Angkor Wat.
The intensified fighting, which has entered its second week, marks the most serious escalation between the neighbouring countries this year. More than half a million people have fled their homes on both sides of the border, according to local reports, creating one of the region’s fastest-growing displacement crises. Cambodia reported at least 15 civilians killed and dozens wounded in the recent strikes, while Thailand acknowledged military casualties and denied targeting civilians directly.
Bangkok has justified its operations as necessary to reclaim disputed territory and counter Cambodian rocket fire, but Phnom Penh has condemned the deepening incursions as violations of international law. With emergency shelters stretched and historic temple complexes like those near Siem Reap potentially exposed to spillover violence, experts warn that the humanitarian and economic consequences could widen if fighting persists.
