BANGKOK — A Facebook page purportedly belonging to Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni has drawn fierce backlash from Thai netizens after publishing unverified allegations that Thailand used chemical weapons in recent border clashes.

Thai Army Detains 18 Cambodian Soldiers After Border Clash

False Accusations Go Viral

The post, published on July 28, claimed that Thai forces deployed chemical weapons and cluster bombs—both prohibited under international law—against Cambodian troops. It included an edited image of a gas mask overlaid with the Thai flag, further fueling outrage. The post amassed 11.7K comments and 5.9K shares, with many Thai users condemning it as disinformation.

Thai Military Denies Allegations

The Royal Thai Army dismissed the claims as “fake and baseless,” clarifying that a viral image of an aircraft releasing pink smoke was actually a firefighting plane in California. The Cambodian Defence Ministry, led by spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, had earlier accused Thailand of “poison gas attacks” but provided no evidence.

The King of Cambodia believed fake news and spread it online, without bothering to verify. Your Majesty please checking the facts.#TruthFromThailand pic.twitter.com/V459dGdHkw

— มีนิ้วก็พิมพ์ไป (@Rosemaryn_1984_) July 30, 2025

Diplomatic Tensions Escalate

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry condemned the allegations as a “deliberate distortion of facts” aimed at misleading the international community. The false claims were amplified on social media by figures including Pich Chanmony, wife of Cambodian PM Hun Manet, and the Cambodian Embassy in Bulgaria.

Cambodia Accused of Ceasefire Violation in Fresh Border Clashes

As misinformation spreads, both nations remain locked in a bitter dispute, with Thailand demanding accountability for the inflammatory posts.

-Thailand News (TN)