Thai Military Claims Air Attacks in Five-Day War as Cambodia Insists It Is the Victim

Thailand’s military has told ASEAN observers that during five days of fighting along the border, it came under air attack from Cambodian forces. The Thai side said this prompted it to launch counterstrikes before hostilities ended shortly before midnight on July 28, 2025. Thailand’s Khaosod newspaper published details of a military report on Wednesday, alleging that Cambodian forces not only struck Thai military positions in Surin province but also targeted civilian areas. The report said seven civilians were killed and ten were wounded.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence rejected the accusation. In a statement on July 28, the ministry said Thai troops were the ones who opened fire first, shelling Cambodian territory near the Ta Moan Thom and Ta Krabey temples. The ministry said the attack began around 03:10 in the morning and continued until 05:07.

A spokesperson said Thai troops launched assaults across several areas of Cambodia’s fourth military region, including Ta Moan Thom, Chub Kokir, Thmor Don, Veal Indry, 5 January, Ta Thav, Phnom Khmoch, and An Ses. The statement said Thai forces fought particularly hard to seize Wat Keo Kiri Svar at the 5 January site but were repelled.

Maly Socheata, another Cambodian official, said Thai attacks had forced more than 130,000 Cambodians from their homes by July 27. That figure included almost 40,000 families, among them pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and children.

More than 600 schools across five provinces were closed, affecting 150,000 students and 6,000 teachers. Infrastructure was also badly damaged, homes and property destroyed, and Cambodia said the UNESCO World Heritage site of Preah Vihear temple sustained severe damage.

The Cambodian defence ministry report added that Thai forces used F-16 and Gripen fighter aircraft to drop Mk-82 and Mk-84 bombs on Cambodian territory. The statement said Thai troops also deployed drones to release M261 and M472 bombs, as well as suicide and reconnaissance drones.

The report accused Thai forces of using heavy artillery, cluster munitions, and even chemical smoke, while Cambodia itself did not deploy heavy weapons against Thailand.

The ministry said Cambodia remained committed to resolving the dispute peacefully through legal and diplomatic means, but stressed it would continue to defend its people and its territory in line with its constitution.