Thai authorities reported that twelve people, mostly civilians from Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, and Srisaket provinces, died in clashes with Cambodian troops along their disputed border. The fighting, which involved gunfire and air strikes, began on Thursday and led to Thailand closing its border with Cambodia and evacuating 40,000 civilians. Both countries offered conflicting accounts of the events, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of initiating the attack with rockets and drones, while Cambodia claimed Thailand violated a prior agreement and opened fire first.

The conflict escalated from previous border disputes dating back over a century, with recent tensions rising in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed. Both countries have imposed various restrictions on each other in the past two months, including trade and travel limitations. While both Prime Ministers expressed a desire for peaceful resolution, the current political climate in both Thailand and Cambodia, involving shaky coalition governments and lingering nationalist sentiments, presents obstacles to de-escalation. Local resident Sutian Phiwchan described the situation as "really serious".

Impact Statement: The border clashes represent a significant escalation in the long-standing territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, raising concerns about regional stability and the potential for further conflict.