Thailand’s border conflict with Cambodia has escalated sharply, with air strikes, civilian evacuations and direct implications for cross-border travel.
Night escalation and air strikes
On 8 December 2025, officials said the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border had deteriorated dramatically overnight, moving beyond ground clashes. According to morning updates at 9:00, the Royal Thai Air Force carried out attacks along the border line. The military said this was a direct response to earlier attacks in the Chong Bok area of Ubon Ratchathani, where one Thai soldier was killed and four were injured.
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvari confirmed the involvement of air power and said evacuation of people from threatened areas had been accelerated.
Where evacuations are taking place
Fighting has been concentrated in Thailand’s northeast, in the Isan region. Civilian evacuation orders cover a border strip in four provinces: Sisaket, Surin, Buri Ram and Ubon Ratchathani.
Residents from these areas are being moved to temporary shelters deeper inside the country. The violence intensified after heavy exchanges of fire on 7 December in the Phu Pha Lek – Phlan Hin Paet Kon area of Sisaket, where both small arms and recoilless guns were used.
What travellers should do now
For travellers in Thailand or those planning a trip to Cambodia, overland border crossings in Sisaket, Surin, Buri Ram and Ubon Ratchathani should be avoided completely. These areas are described as zones of military activity or the highest risk.
If you have a combined Thailand and Cambodia itinerary, the only safer option mentioned is air travel, with Bangkok flights to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Even then, the situation is dynamic, so flight status should be checked continuously because the border conflict may affect civil routes.
Travellers who are already in Isan should follow local evacuation messages and keep the emergency number for tourist police, 1155, and their embassy. The major tourist hubs such as Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai are reported to be far from the fighting and remain calm for now.
Koh Kood remains watchful
The diplomatic dispute also touches territorial claims around the tourist island of Koh Kood in Trat province. There are no reports of fighting on the island itself, but the political atmosphere around it is tense, so visitors should keep an eye on updates.
For travel planning, the key point is that this border conflict is localised, but serious. Trips that rely on land crossings into Cambodia from the affected northeast provinces should be postponed or redesigned, while other parts of Thailand are still functioning normally.
Because conditions can change quickly, travel insurance and flexible bookings are especially important until the border conflict stabilises.
- Avoid land border crossings in the affected provinces.
- Use air travel for Thailand-Cambodia connections if necessary.
- Monitor official announcements, flights and local evacuation notices.
- Keep embassy contacts and tourist police number 1155 available.
