Escalation of Conflict: Thailand Bombs Near Cambodia's Poipet Border

Fri Dec 19 2025 04:23:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Renewed tensions between Thailand and Cambodia lead to bombings near the Poipet border, marking a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict. At least 21 people have died amid recent clashes.

Thailand has conducted airstrikes near the Poipet border crossing with Cambodia, reportedly targeting a logistics center involved in military operations. The bombings occur amidst ongoing border clashes that have led to significant casualties and displacement of civilians. Both countries exchange blame for the resurgence of violence despite prior ceasefire agreements.

Thailand says it has bombed a logistics centre near the Cambodian town of Poipet, known for being a major casino hub and the biggest land crossing between the two countries.

The bombings come as renewed border clashes show no sign of abating.

Cambodia's defence ministry stated that Thai forces dropped two bombs, while the Thai side claimed they targeted a facility storing rocket systems.

This month's renewed fighting has claimed at least 21 lives in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, displacing around 800,000 civilians, according to official reports.

In a statement, the Cambodian defence ministry indicated that the Thai forces had targeted the Poipet municipality area at approximately 11:00 am (0400 GMT) on Thursday.

Shortly thereafter, Thai Air Force spokesperson Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai stated that the military had attacked a center outside Poipet which was involved in storing BM-21 rockets, ensuring that no civilians were harmed during the incident.

BM-21 rockets are deployed in packets from an armored vehicle justifying concerns about the potential risks posed to civilians.

These bombings are reportedly the first on Poipet, a town famous for casinos favored by Thai gamblers and its international border checkpoint.

Earlier, Thailand revealed that 5,000 to 6,000 Thai nationals remained stranded in Poipet after Cambodia closed its border crossings.

The Cambodian interior ministry labeled the closures a necessary measure to protect civilians, suggesting air travel as an alternative for those wanting to depart.

The century-old border dispute between the Southeast Asian nations surged again on July 24 when a Cambodian rocket barrage struck Thailand, culminating in retaliatory Thai airstrikes. This led to five days of intense military engagement resulting in numerous casualties.

Despite an earlier agreement for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and former U.S. President Donald Trump, which saw a promise to halt tariff negotiations until tensions eased, hostilities have reignited.

Last week, accusations arose again, with Cambodia alleging that Thai forces bombed Siem Reap province, home to the revered Angkor temples, marking the first incident in this latest round of fighting.