Escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border have prompted Thailand to deploy four naval gunboats near Koh Kood, Trat Province, as part of “Operation Trat Strike 1” amid reports of Cambodian troop movements and artillery fire. The standoff, rooted in historical disputes over border demarcations, marks the deadliest clash between the two nations in over a decade, with 32 fatalities and 130 casualties, reported since Thursday.
Military Response and Evacuations
The Royal Thai Navy’s First Naval Area Command, under the Border Defence Command of Chanthaburi and Trat, mobilized a task group of fast attack and patrol gunboats to Koh Kood District and Ban Hat Lek. Security sources confirmed the vessels are positioned to provide fire support to ground forces within one minute of receiving orders, as reported by the Bangkok Post on July 26, 2025. The deployment follows Cambodian forces reportedly crossing into three locations in Trat at 5:10 AM local time, prompting a swift Thai response.
Trat Governor Natthaphong Sanguanjit ordered evacuations in Muang, Bo Rai, and Khlong Yai districts, relocating residents, including the elderly and hospital patients, to 10 designated shelters. Cambodian migrant workers in tambon Laem Klat had their mobile phones confiscated for security reasons, according to local mayor Kittipong Yula-or. Across the Meteuk River in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, 11 kilometers from the border, Cambodian forces have established field positions, heightening regional tensions. 
Thai Navy Capability
| Equipment Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Carrier | 1 × HTMS Chakri Naruebet (helicopter carrier) |
| Submarines | 0 active; 1 × S26T-class (HTMS Matchanu, expected ~2027–2028); 2 additional planned |
| Frigates | 7 (2 × Naresuan-class, 1 × Bhumibol Adulyadej-class, 4 × Chao Phraya-class) |
| Corvettes | 7 (2 × Ratanakosin-class, 3 × Kamronsin-class, 2 × Pattani-class) |
| Amphibious & Landing Ships | ~15–20 (2 × LPDs: HTMS Angthong, HTMS Chang; 2 × Sichang-class LSTs; multiple LCUs) |
| Patrol & Coastal Combat Vessels | ~80–100 (OPVs, FACs, missile boats) |
| Mine Warfare Vessels | 5 |
| Auxiliary / Support Ships | ~15–17 (replenishment, survey, training) |
| Naval Aviation (Fixed-Wing) | ~23 (Dornier 228, Fokker F27, Cessna) |
| Naval Aviation (Helicopters) | ~26 (SH-60 Seahawk, Super Lynx, H145M, UH-1N) |
| Total Surface Fleet | ~140–150 vessels |
Local Impact and Alleged Espionage
Residents near Banthat Mountain reported artillery fire from 5:00 AM, with a monk from Rai Pa temple in tambon Noen Sai describing on social media seeing lights in the sky and people fleeing as Thai soldiers moved toward the conflict zone. On July 25, authorities detained Virak Thep, a 52-year-old Cambodian national, in Surin Province’s Kap Choeng District for photographing evacuation points. Thep, fluent in Thai, claimed he was sending the images to his sister, not Cambodian officials, according to a July 26 report by The Nation Thailand. The incident has fueled local suspicions of espionage amid tightened security measures, including extended martial law in Trat and Chanthaburi provinces, restricting movement and travel.
Historical Context and Casualties
The conflict, which erupted on Thursday, has claimed 19 Thai lives, including six soldiers, and injured over 60, while Cambodia reports 13 deaths, per a July 26 Reuters update. The violence follows a May skirmish where two Thai soldiers were injured by landmines and a Cambodian soldier was killed. Both nations claim self-defense, with Thailand demanding a halt to Cambodian actions before agreeing to a ceasefire. The dispute traces back to early 20th-century Franco-Siamese treaties, which ceded territory to Cambodia during French colonial rule. These treaties, particularly differing map interpretations, have fueled tensions, notably around the Preah Vihear temple, the site of deadly clashes from 2008 to 2011.
Regional Implications
The rapid naval deployment underscores Thailand’s resolve to secure its border, with the gunboats described as a significant deterrent in the region, according to a July 26 Phuket News report. Across the border, Cambodia’s military buildup in Koh Kong signals a reciprocal escalation. The conflict’s proximity to civilian areas, coupled with evacuations and martial law, has disrupted local communities, with shelters now housing diverse groups, including Cambodian migrant workers.
As both nations navigate this volatile standoff, the international community watches closely. The absence of immediate ceasefire talks and the historical weight of the dispute suggest a prolonged resolution process. For now, the residents of Trat and Chanthaburi remain on edge, their lives upended by a conflict rooted in decades-old cartographic disagreements.
