Morning Brief: Cambodia/Thai Border Clash Continues, New Mexico Dorm Shooting, Lebanese Terrorist Released

· Guy D. McCardle

Thai and Cambodian forces stand shoulder to shoulder in the mud with mine detectors in hand—proof that in this border fight, every step forward could be your last. Image Credit: Associated Press

Fighting along the Cambodian–Thai border is ongoing and has now entered its third day, making it the most serious escalation between the two countries in over a decade. Both sides accuse the other of starting the violence and have mobilized additional troops in several areas. The conflict is centered on historically disputed border regions—including around ancient temples—but has now spread to new flashpoints as far as 200 miles south of the initial clashes.

  • Over 30 people have been killed, with casualties including both soldiers and civilians on each side.
  • More than 130,000 people have been displaced, fleeing from active combat areas in both countries.
  • Martial law has been declared in Thai border districts, and refugee shelters are being set up for evacuees.
  • Artillery, rocket fire, and even airstrikes have been reported. Both sides allege the use of heavy weaponry, and there are accusations that cluster munitions were used—a claim that would violate international conventions if true.

Key recent developments:

  • Clashes have expanded into new areas, including Thailand’s Trat Province and Cambodia’s Pursat Province, far from the sites of earlier border fighting.
  • On 24 July, Thai forces reportedly carried out airstrikes on Cambodian territory, targeting multiple sites around the Preah Vihear Temple and other regions.
  • Both countries have issued strongly worded statements to the United Nations Security Council, trading accusations about who escalated the conflict and requesting differing forms of mediation (Cambodia calling for UN/ICJ involvement; Thailand preferring bilateral talks).
  • An emergency session of the UN Security Council is underway in response to these events.

There is also a parallel “war of words” on social media, with hate speech and misinformation increasing tensions among civilians in both countries. Cultural disputes surrounding historic temple sites and unresolved colonial-era boundaries further fuel the crisis.

If the current level of violence persists, both governments have warned that full-scale war is possible. International actors, including Malaysia (as ASEAN chair) and the United States and China, have offered to mediate, but Thailand has so far declined third-party intervention, insisting on bilateral negotiation.

The situation remains fluid and highly volatile, with widespread displacement, casualties, and both sides on military alert.

 

Teen Killed in Dorm Shooting at University of New Mexico; Suspect in Custody

A shooting at the University of New Mexico’s Casa Del Rio dormitory in the early hours of July 25 ended in tragedy when a 14-year-old boy was killed and a 19-year-old man was wounded. The violence broke out around 3 a.m. in a dorm room where four people, including the suspect, were reportedly playing video games. Without warning, 18-year-old John Fuentes allegedly opened fire on the group. The 14-year-old died at the scene, while the 19-year-old managed to escape and was later treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

After the shooting, Fuentes fled the campus, triggering an immediate shelter-in-place order for students and staff. The timing couldn’t have been worse—new student orientation was underway, and many students were staying in the dorms. Some were evacuated, while others spent the morning on lockdown as police swarmed the area. Using license plate reader technology, officers tracked Fuentes down and arrested him later that day during a traffic stop in Valencia County.

The university shut down its central campus for the rest of Friday to allow investigators to work and to reassure shaken students and staff. Thankfully, no enrolled students or university employees were among the victims. Still, the incident has cast a dark cloud over the start of the semester. Both university and state officials issued somber statements, mourning the loss of life and acknowledging the growing anxiety surrounding gun violence on and near school campuses.

 

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah Released After 40 Years, Flown to Hero’s Welcome in Lebanon

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a Lebanese militant long labeled a terrorist by France, the U.S., and Israel, has been released after more than four decades behind bars. The 74-year-old was flown from France to Beirut on July 25, 2025, where he was greeted like a returning war hero. Family members, political backers—including Hezbollah representatives—and activists were all there at the airport, waving flags and chanting slogans. Streets in some areas of Beirut filled with supporters celebrating what they called a win for the Palestinian cause.

Abdallah had been locked up since 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for orchestrating the assassinations of U.S. military attaché Lt. Col. Charles Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris back in 1982. He was also the leader of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (FARL), a Marxist anti-Israel group behind several attacks on Western targets. Even though he’s been eligible for parole since 1999, repeated bids for release were shut down—often with heavy pressure from Washington.

That changed this week when a French appeals court ruled that keeping him locked up any longer was “disproportionate,” especially given his age and the fact that FARL hasn’t been active in decades. The court approved his release on one major condition: Abdallah had to leave France immediately and was permanently banned from ever coming back.

In Beirut, Abdallah wasted no time stepping back into the spotlight. During his arrival speech, he called for continued resistance against Israel and said his fight wasn’t over. The U.S. and Israel both blasted France’s decision to let him go, insisting that Abdallah is still a threat. Meanwhile, his supporters paint a different picture—one of a political prisoner finally freed after a long, unjust sentence. The truth, as always, depends on which side of the barbed wire you’re standing on. Freeing murderous terrorists is never a good thing.