Delegation from overseas gains invaluable insight into devastation caused by border disputes
Thai Delegation Visits Conflict-Affected Border Areas in Si Sa Ket
A high-level delegation led by the Royal Thai Army recently visited the conflict-affected Thai-Cambodian border areas in Si Sa Ket province, demonstrating Thailand's commitment to transparency and its willingness to allow the international community to witness the situation firsthand.
The delegation, which included 105 people, consisted of ambassadors, military attaches, and journalists from 23 countries, as well as senior Thai officials such as Lt Gen Anuparp Sirimonthon, AM Narat Boonprasert, Russ Jalichandra, and Maj Gen Naruedol Sukma.
The visit was intended to provide a first-hand observation of the damage caused by Cambodian military attacks. The delegation started their journey from Don Mueang Air Force Base in Bangkok and visited a PTT petrol station and attached 7-Eleven store in Ban Phue, Kantharalak district, where a BM-21 rocket strike killed eight civilians and injured ten.
The attacks also hit a hospital, a school, and other non-military infrastructure. The delegation visited Phum Srol Witthaya School in tambon Sao Thongchai, which sustained structural damage, and Tambon Sam Meng health promotion hospital, which was hit by artillery fire and is currently out of service.
The visit aimed to highlight the humanitarian impact of the recent cross-border attacks, which have resulted in civilian and military casualties, significant displacement, and infrastructure damage due to artillery, rocket attacks, and airstrikes. The clashes, which escalated quickly, involved the use of BM-21 rockets by Cambodia and the bombing of Cambodian army posts by Thailand, leading to the destruction of command posts of Cambodia’s 8th and 9th Infantry Divisions.
The delegation received a briefing about the border situation at the 22nd Military Circle in Warin Chamrap district of Ubon Ratchathani. The diplomatic delegation included ambassadors from Brunei, Japan, Myanmar, and representatives from Indonesia, the United States, Singapore, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
The international response to the conflict includes emergency diplomatic engagement at the United Nations Security Council, aiming to contain and resolve the violence before it escalates further. The United Nations Security Council held an urgent private meeting on July 25, 2025, under the agenda of threats to international peace and security to discuss the clashes, following a request from Cambodia. Cambodia and Thailand participated in this meeting, highlighting the international diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
The recent cross-border attacks pose a critical test to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), indicating broader regional diplomatic stakes. The situation has drawn concern from regional and global bodies, and the international community is closely monitoring the developments to ensure peace and stability in the region.
- The visit by the Thai delegation to conflict-affected border areas in Si Sa Ket sheds light on the political implications of war-and-conflicts, as it unfolds diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation at the United Nations Security Council.
- The general news of the recent North-Thai border clashes, involving the use of BM-21 rockets by Cambodia and airstrikes by Thailand, underscores the impact of politics on war-and-conflicts, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) grapples with broader regional diplomatic stakes.
