Thai Escalation Intensifies: Defense Ministry Spokesperson Says Thailand Expands Military Assaults Without De-escalation Efforts

Thai Escalation Intensifies: Defense Ministry Spokesperson Says Thailand Expands Military Assaults Without De-escalation Efforts

Phnom Penh, July 26, 2025 – In a press conference held this morning at Vimean Santepheap (Peace Palace), Office of the Council of Ministers, General Maly Socheata, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia, strongly condemned Thailand’s continued military aggression, stating that Thai forces have significantly escalated their offensive against Cambodia without taking any measures to ease tensions or de-escalate the conflict.

General Socheata revealed that Thailand has placed Trat and Chanthaburi provinces, which border Cambodia’s Koh Kong and Pursat provinces, under martial law. This has been accompanied by the deployment of troops, weaponry, and reinforcement units along Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey border. According to the spokesperson, this is part of a premeditated operation known as the “Chakraphong Phouvanaat Military Operation.”

“These troop deployments clearly reflect Thailand’s intent to escalate and expand military assaults on Cambodian territory and violate Cambodia’s sovereignty at an increasingly alarming scale,” General Socheata stated.

The Cambodian Defense Ministry further reported that these attacks have begun to spread to other provinces. At 5:02 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, Thai forces launched a coordinated artillery strike using five heavy munitions against multiple targets in Thma Da commune, Veal Veng district, Pursat province.

In Cambodia’s western frontier, particularly in Village 4, the Thai army launched simultaneous attacks on three locations—Chong Ta Thao, Chom Tae, and Veal Intri—all hit at 5:00 a.m., showing a deliberate and calculated widening of the battlefield.

General Socheata emphasized that this marks the third consecutive day of Thai military incursions onto Cambodia’s internationally recognized sovereign territory. The escalation follows Thailand’s initial unprovoked assault on July 24 at 8:46 a.m., when Thai troops opened fire on Cambodian forces stationed at Ta Muan Thom Temple. Cambodia responded by exercising its legal right to self-defense in line with both international law and national legislation.

These latest developments further underscore the gravity of the situation along the Cambodia–Thailand border and point to a clear pattern of Thai aggression, expansionist military strategy, and disregard for regional peace and legal norms. Cambodian authorities continue to call on the international community to condemn these violations and to support Cambodia’s right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.