Photographic evidence documents the scale of military conflict and political fallout along the Thai Cambodia border

Scenes from the 2025 Thai-Cambodian border conflict reveal civilian trauma, the fall of the Shinawatra government, and the rise of Prime Minister Anutin.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 4:06 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Diplomat

Initial hostilities and civilian impact

The border conflict escalated into an undeclared war on July 24, 2025, when a Cambodian BM-21 rocket strike penetrated 20 kilometers into Thai territory. The strike hit a commercial convenience store in the Kanthalarak district of Sisaket province, resulting in the deaths of eight civilians and wounding ten others. This event marked the beginning of a five day period of high intensity combat that forced thousands of Thai residents in Surin and Sisaket provinces to abandon their homes. Displaced civilians sought refuge in temporary aid centers established within university facilities, as the proximity to the front lines rendered rural villages uninhabitable.

Political instability and leadership changes

The military conflict was mirrored by a significant political crisis in Bangkok. Public protests erupted at the Victory Monument following the leak of a private phone conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Demonstrators accused the administration of ethical violations and inappropriate ties to Cambodian leadership. On August 29, 2025, Thailand’s Constitutional Court removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her entire cabinet from office. In the wake of this removal, Anutin Charnvirakul assumed the role of Prime Minister, subsequently overseeing military ceremonies for fallen soldiers killed during a second phase of clashes in December.

Military escalation and border militarization

By late 2025, the conflict entered a second phase of artillery duels and tactical warfare. Military engagements in the Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province involved heavy artillery fire and drone warfare, leading to the construction of fortified concrete bunkers and specialized fighting trenches designed to block aerial attacks. Thai security forces, including the specialized Black Army, established night time patrols to prevent illegal crossings in Sa Kaeo and rural border zones. The gate at Aranyaprathet, a primary transit point to Poipet, Cambodia, was locked shut as bilateral relations shattered, leaving the border closed indefinitely under military order.