Escalating Tensions: Thailand Bombs Near Cambodia's Poipet Border

Sat Dec 20 2025 14:17:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a dramatic new development in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand has conducted airstrikes near the Poipet border crossing with Cambodia, targeting what they describe as a logistics center linked to military operations.

Thailand has bombed a logistics center near the Poipet border crossing, escalating tensions with Cambodia amidst ongoing border clashes that have already resulted in significant casualties. The airstrikes contributed to a conflict that has seen over 38 fatalities and the displacement of hundreds of thousands since the resurgence of violence earlier this month.

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 reported that Thai forces dropped two bombs, while the Thai military contended that the attack targeted a facility used to store rocket systems.

This resurgence of violence in December has resulted in the deaths of at least 21 individuals in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, with approximately 800,000 people displaced, according to officials.

A statement from Cambodia's defence ministry indicated that Thai forces carried out the bombings around 11:00 am (0400 GMT) Thursday in the Poipet municipality area.

Shortly after the incident, Thai Air Force spokesman Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai claimed that the military attack targeted the centre storing BM-21 rockets while asserting that there were no civilian casualties.

BM-21 rockets are typically deployed in salvos from the back of an armoured vehicle.

The recent bombings mark the first aerial assault on Poipet, a site frequented by Thai gamblers and critical for cross-border travel.

Earlier, Thailand reported that between 5,000 and 6,000 of its nationals remain stranded in Poipet following Cambodia's closure of border crossings.

The closure is viewed as a necessary measure to safeguard civilians, according to Cambodia's interior ministry, which noted that air travel remains an option for those wishing to exit.

This conflict's roots extend back to an ongoing century-old border dispute, with tensions escalating in July when Cambodia targeted Thailand with rocket fire, prompting retaliatory airstrikes.

Despite an initial ceasefire agreement facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump, the truce has since disintegrated with renewed military actions reported from both sides.

Previously, Cambodia had accused Thai forces of launching bombings that reached as far as Siem Reap province, home to the famous Angkor temples, marking a significant expansion in the conflict area.