Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have taken another dangerous turn after Thailand confirmed it carried out air strikes near the Cambodian town of Poipet, a bustling casino hub and the largest land border crossing between the two neighbours. The bombing underscores how fragile the situation has become, with recent fighting showing no signs of cooling off despite earlier ceasefire promises.
According to Cambodia’s defence ministry, Thai forces dropped two bombs in the Poipet municipality area around 11:00 am local time on Thursday. Thai officials, however, insist the strikes were carefully targeted. Thai Air Force spokesman Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai said the military hit what it described as a “logistics centre” outside Poipet that was allegedly being used to store BM-21 rocket systems, stressing that civilians were not harmed in the operation.
BM-21 rockets are multiple-launch weapons typically fired in rapid volleys from armoured vehicles, making them a significant threat in border warfare. The attack appears to mark the first time Poipet itself has been directly affected during this latest round of hostilities, raising alarm given the town’s dense population, thriving casino industry, and its role as a vital crossing point between Thailand and Cambodia.
The renewed clashes this month have already taken a heavy human toll. Officials say at least 21 people have been killed in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, while an estimated 800,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border. The humanitarian impact continues to grow as fighting drags on.
Earlier this week, Thailand said between 5,000 and 6,000 of its citizens were stranded in Poipet after Cambodia closed land border crossings. Cambodian authorities defended the move, calling it a necessary step to protect civilians, while noting that air travel remained available for those trying to leave the area.
At the heart of the conflict is a century-old border dispute that flared dramatically on 24 July, when Cambodia launched a rocket barrage into Thailand, followed by Thai air strikes. That escalation triggered five days of intense fighting, leaving dozens of soldiers and civilians dead. Although the two countries later agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with support from US President Donald Trump, the truce proved short-lived.
The ceasefire collapsed last week, with both Bangkok and Phnom Penh accusing each other of restarting hostilities. Since then, air strikes and artillery exchanges have resumed. President Trump has claimed he could end the fighting with a simple phone call, but the violence has continued regardless.
Adding to concerns, Cambodia recently accused Thai forces of bombing Siem Reap province—home to the ancient Angkor temple complex and the country’s top tourist attraction—for the first time in the current round of clashes. With key civilian areas now being drawn into the conflict, fears are growing that the situation could spiral further unless meaningful diplomacy replaces the current cycle of retaliation.