BANGKOK, THAILAND — A serious fight has broken out between two neighboring countries, Thailand and Cambodia, and it’s the worst one in over 10 years! 💥
Soldiers from both sides are firing big guns and bombs across the border, and the situation is getting scarier by the day. So far, at least 16 people have died and over 130,000 people had to leave their homes to stay safe. 😢
🔥 What’s Happening Now?
On Thursday, fighting suddenly started near an ancient temple at the border—an area both countries claim as their own. It didn’t stop there! The gunfire and explosions quickly spread to other nearby places.
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Thailand used powerful F-16 jets to bomb targets on the Cambodian side.
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Cambodia used big rocket launchers, and Thailand says these rockets hit places where ordinary people live.
Both countries blame each other for starting the fight. Many of the people who died were civilians, not soldiers.
📍 Why Are They Fighting?
The border between Thailand and Cambodia is long—over 800 kilometers—but not all of it has been clearly marked. That means both countries say certain areas belong to them, especially where old temples stand.
One of the biggest trouble spots is a temple called Preah Vihear (or Khao Phra Viharn in Thai). It’s over 1,000 years old! In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said this temple belongs to Cambodia—but Thailand still claims the land around it.
💣 In 2008, Cambodia tried to list the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and that led to fights. Then again in 2011, both sides fought with artillery (big guns), and people died.
The ICJ ruled again in 2013, saying the land around the temple also belongs to Cambodia. Thailand was told to remove its troops, but tensions never fully cooled down.
😡 What Caused the Recent Trouble?
Things got heated again in May 2025, when a Cambodian soldier was killed during a short gunfight. That small incident grew into a bigger problem over the next few weeks.
It got even worse when a Thai soldier lost his leg after stepping on a landmine, and Thailand blamed Cambodia for putting it there. Cambodia said:
“Nope! That mine was from a war a long time ago. It wasn’t us!”
Then, a secret phone call between Thailand’s young Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen was leaked. In the recording, she seemed to agree too much with Cambodia, which made many Thai people angry. The prime minister was later suspended from her job by a court.
🕊️ Are They Trying to Stop the Fight?
Both countries say they want peace, but they still aren’t backing down.
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Cambodia says it wants to bring the problem back to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
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Thailand says “No way” and wants to solve things just between the two of them—but only if Cambodia stops the attacks.
Now, Cambodia has asked the United Nations to step in and help stop what it calls “unprovoked aggression” from Thailand.
🚨 Real People Are in Danger
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Over 130,000 people in Thailand have been moved to safer places.
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On Cambodia’s side, around 12,000 families had to flee their homes.
People are scared. Kids can’t go to school. Parents don’t know if their homes will still be standing tomorrow. It’s not just politics—it’s about real lives.
⚠️ Why This Matters
This is more than just a fight over land. It’s a battle that’s bringing up old wounds, hurt feelings, and national pride. Both countries love their history and their land, and now, it’s turning into a dangerous war zone.
