by Michael Scurry
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia reignited as Thai forces bombed a logistics hub near Poipet, deepening a border conflict that has already left dozens dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Thailand has confirmed air strikes on what it described as a Cambodian military logistics centre near the border town of Poipet, marking a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has flared repeatedly over the past five months.
The bombings, which took place around 11:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, targeted a facility believed to be storing BM-21 rocket systems just outside Poipet, according to a statement by Thai Air Force spokesman Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai. He emphasized that the strike was carefully executed to avoid civilian casualties.
Cambodia’s defence ministry, however, reported that two bombs were dropped within Poipet municipality itself. The town is a key transit point and casino hub that serves as the busiest land crossing between the two Southeast Asian neighbours.
This marks the first reported bombing in the vicinity of Poipet, a symbolically and economically significant site, especially popular with Thai tourists. The escalation raises fears of broader regional instability, particularly after both sides had previously agreed to a now-defunct ceasefire.
Fighting this month alone has killed at least 21 people in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, with some 800,000 residents displaced, according to official estimates.
The century-old border dispute dramatically worsened on July 24, when Cambodia launched a rocket barrage into Thai territory. Thailand responded with retaliatory air strikes, sparking five days of deadly conflict. A ceasefire, brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and then-U.S. President Donald Trump, was short-lived.
Despite Trump’s boast last week that he could “end the fighting with a single phone call,” hostilities have continued. Earlier this week, Cambodia accused Thailand of bombing parts of Siem Reap province — home to the famed Angkor temples — marking the first such attack in the UNESCO World Heritage site’s vicinity.
Amid the renewed violence, Cambodia closed its land borders, citing the need to protect civilians. Thailand estimates that up to 6,000 of its nationals remain stranded in Poipet. Cambodian authorities have said air travel remains a possible exit route for foreign nationals.
The situation remains volatile, with each side blaming the other for violating the ceasefire and reigniting hostilities. With no diplomatic breakthrough in sight, the risk of further civilian harm and regional destabilization continues to grow.
(Associated Medias) – all rights reserved
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