Thai Military Considers Escalation if Cambodian Aggression Persists on Border

Brickinfo News Agency – The Thai military is considering an escalation of force if ongoing cross-border hostilities with Cambodia do not cease. As of July 24, 2025, at 3:00 PM, Major General Withai Laithomya, Spokesperson for the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, reported an increase in the intensity of exchanges along the Thai-Cambodian border. Cambodian forces have reportedly initiated firing with various small arms and unit-level weapons into Thai territory, resulting in injuries and fatalities among both military personnel and civilians.

Under the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters’ operational directives, based on Section 39 of the 2008 Ministry of Defense Organization Act, the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces has ordered the Royal Thai Army to implement Chakkraphong Phuwanart Plan. This contingency plan, part of the Eastern border defense strategy, designates the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army as the incident commander. In this role, the Commander-in-Chief holds authority over the deployment of ground forces and can request air and naval support to assist ground operations as per the contingency plan.

Military operations are typically categorized into two phases: normal and operational. The current situation is in the operational phase, with the 2nd Army Area providing fire support and the Royal Thai Air Force offering air support. The primary objective of these actions is to target Cambodian military installations to de-escalate the situation, with strict instructions to avoid targeting Cambodian civilians. Major General Withai emphasized that if the current level of violence or the use of force by the opposing side persists, the Thai military will consider escalating its response to the next level of national defense.

The Royal Thai Armed Forces strongly condemns the actions of the Cambodian military and government, asserting a clear intention to initiate hostilities with heavy weaponry without regard for the potential loss of life among civilians on both sides. The Thai military has affirmed its commitment to protecting Thailand’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security, assuring Thai citizens of their utmost dedication to ensuring safety and security. Further updates on the situation will be provided as they become available.