June, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was then-prime minister of Thailand, made a call to Cambodia’s de facto leader, Hun Sen, to address a recent escalation along the border between the two countries that had left a Cambodian soldier dead.

A personal feud between two of Southeast Asia’s political titans is inflaming the worst violence on the border in more than a decade.

Cambodian President Hun Sen has denied reports claiming he fled to China amid an escalating war with Thailand. Thai media alleged Sen abandoned the country as border clashes intensified, but he refuted the claims,

While fighting has over the years erupted sporadically along the 800km border, analysts say that what appears to be a personal feud between Thaksin and Hun Sen, whose son Hun Manet succeeded him as Cambodian prime minister in 2023, is making the current conflict more volatile.

The current clashes erupted on Thursday with an exchange of fire near Prasat Ta Muen Thom, an ancient temple claimed by both nations. It followed two months of tensions over contested territory that began in late May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish.

Three Thai soldiers were injured following a blast near the Chong Bok border area in Ubon Ratchathani province on Jul 16, The Nation reported.

Sen has also been a key player in the recent hostilities, with some analysts describing him as the driving force behind the conflict.

In a statement posted on social media, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) claimed that Cambodian soldiers opened fire around 8:20am in an area about 200 metres away from disputed Ta Muen Thom temple, which is located on the Thai–Cambodian border. This has led to a barrage of media reports on purported military actions on both sides.

Thailand's foreign ministry said on Friday it was taken aback by an unprecedented public attack on the Thai premier and her family by Cambodia's influential former leader, but stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve an escalating bilateral dispute.

The Royal Thai Army has strongly condemned systematic attacks on Thai civilian targets by Cambodian forces, whilst dismissing claims that Thai troops have seized the disputed Preah Vihear temple as "fake news".