Smoke is pictured in the air from a multi-rocket launcher near the Cambodia-Thailand border in Oddar Meanchey province on July 25, 2025. Photo: VCG

Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge as border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered its third day on Saturday, heightening rising fears of a prolonged conflict with the reported total death toll reaching 32. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting late Friday, where Cambodia called for an "immediate" ceasefire with Thailand. Thailand stated it prefers bilateral negotiations over third-party mediation to resolve this military conflict, according to media reports.

The Royal Thai Air Force deployed a total of four F-16 and Gripen fighter jets to carry out airstrikes against Cambodian military targets in the Phu Ma Kua area and Ta Muen Thom temple, where Cambodian forces had positioned indirect fire weapons, Thai media reported on Saturday.  

On Saturday, the Thai Army Intelligence Bureau sent a letter to 26 countries through military attachés stationed abroad, stating that the Cambodian army was the party that initiated the attack, which severely infringes on Thailand's sovereignty. The recipients of this letter included the US, China, Russia, France, UK, Germany, and ASEAN countries, according to media reports.

Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense on Saturday refuted the claims that Cambodia was the first to violate or invade Thailand, calling such information false, CCTV reported. The ministry urged the Thai side to publicly specify the exact locations or sites allegedly violated by Cambodia.

Cambodian officials reported 12 additional deaths as a result of the ongoing border dispute with Thailand, with the death toll on both sides now standing at 32, as fears grow that the Southeast Asian neighbors may become embroiled in a prolonged conflict, Al Jazeera reported on Saturday.

Cambodian Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Maly Socheata told reporters on Saturday that seven civilians and five soldiers were confirmed dead. Another Cambodian man was previously reported killed when Thai rockets hit the Buddhist pagoda he had taken shelter in on Thursday, the report said.

Thailand has reported 13 civilians - including children - as well as six soldiers killed over the past two days of fighting. In addition, 29 Thai soldiers and 30 civilians have been wounded.

Cambodian newspaper The Khmer Times, quoting officials in Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, said about 20,000 residents have been evacuated from the country's northern border with Thailand.

More than 138,000 people have also been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, with about 300 evacuation centers established, according to Thai officials. On Friday, Thailand declared martial law in eight districts along the border with Cambodia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has announced plans to evacuate Thai nationals from Cambodia amid ongoing clashes between the two countries. The decision came on Friday during a high-level meeting held at the ministry to assess the situation and discuss evacuation strategies.

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors late Friday in New York, while Malaysia, which chairs the 10-nation regional bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate, NBC News reported.

The UN Security Council did not issue a statement but a council diplomat said all 15 members called on the parties to deescalate, show restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully, the report noted.

Cambodia's UN Ambassador Chhea Keo told reporters afterward that his country, which called for the emergency meeting, "asked for immediate ceasefires, unconditionally, and we also call for the peaceful solution to the dispute."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said he had backed a ceasefire proposal put forward by his Malaysian counterpart and chairperson of ASEAN, Anwar Ibrahim, but added that Thailand withdrew its backing of the plan after initially agreeing to it.

In a Facebook post, Hun Manet described Thailand's decision as "regrettable".

Thailand's foreign ministry said later that it agreed in principle with the Malaysian proposal for a ceasefire and will consider the plan, but that it must be based on "appropriate on-the-ground conditions".

"It must be stated that throughout the day, Cambodian forces have continued their indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory," the ministry said in a post on X.

Per a Reuters report, Thailand favors bilateral negotiation rather than third-party mediation to resolve its military conflict with Cambodia, the report cited two Thai officials on Friday. Bangkok is seeking a bilateral solution to the conflict, said Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura, the Reuters added.

Global Times