Thailand Launches Air Strikes on Cambodian Military Targets,After Deadly Rocket Attacks Hit Thai Civilians, Hospital and Gas Station

In a dramatic and dangerous escalation of a long-simmering border dispute, Thailand has launched airstrikes on Cambodian military targets after Cambodian rockets struck civilian areas deep inside Thai territory, including a hospital and gas station — sparking alarm across the region and raising fears of a full-scale war.

The fighting erupted on Thursday morning, near the disputed Ta Muen temple in the Emerald Triangle — the historically contested region where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos converge. What began as a tense military standoff spiraled into outright violence, with both countries trading fire, accusations, and diplomatic blows.

According to Thai military officials, the clash was ignited when a Cambodian drone was detected over Thai territory. Shortly after, a group of Cambodian soldiers approached a barbed-wire fence near a Thai army post. After warnings were issued, Cambodian troops reportedly opened fire, prompting a deadly response.

Then came the strikes that shocked the Thai public.

BM-21 Grad rockets, launched by the Cambodian Royal Army, hit Ban Phue in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket Province, with one rocket striking a PTT gas station — a shocking attack deep within Thai borders, as reported by multiple Thai media outlets. Fires broke out, civilians fled in panic, and images of a blazing petrol station quickly circulated across national news and social media.

Even more alarming, Cambodian forces also reportedly targeted the Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, a Thai civilian medical facility near the frontlines. No official death toll from the hospital strike has been released yet, but Thai authorities confirmed medical personnel and patients were evacuated amid chaos.

In total, at least nine civilians were confirmed dead, with some reports suggesting the number may be as high as twelve. Among the injured was a five-year-old child, caught in the crossfire as rockets landed in populated Thai villages.

Thailand responded forcefully. Six F-16 fighter jets from Ubon Ratchathani Airbase launched precision strikes on two Cambodian military targets, which the Thai military said were involved in launching the earlier attacks. Deputy military spokesperson Ritcha Suksuwanon confirmed the airstrikes and said Thailand was “defending its sovereignty and civilians from unprovoked aggression.”

Cambodia, however, denied being the aggressor. In a strongly-worded statement, Cambodian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata accused Thailand of violating Cambodian territory, claiming their troops had only fired back in self-defence, under international law. Phnom Penh maintains that Thailand launched the first strike, and that Cambodian troops were stationed legally on Cambodian land.

But the violence isn’t limited to the battlefield. Diplomatic relations have collapsed rapidly. Following the attack, Thailand expelled Cambodia’s ambassador and recalled its own envoy from Phnom Penh. The move came after a landmine explosion earlier in the week injured five Thai soldiers, which Thai investigators believe was a freshly planted mine from Cambodian troops — an accusation Cambodia rejected.

In retaliation, Cambodia downgraded diplomatic ties, pulled most of its embassy staff, and expelled Thailand’s diplomats from its capital.

The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh has now urged all Thai nationals to leave Cambodia immediately, warning of deteriorating conditions. Border checkpoints have been tightened, and both countries are suspending trade and movement across key border crossings.

At the heart of this crisis is a long-disputed patch of land containing ancient Khmer temples like Prasat Ta Muen Thom, which both countries claim as their own. While court rulings and talks have tried to resolve the matter in the past, clashes have erupted repeatedly — most recently in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a firefight.

Now, the situation is more volatile than ever. Cambodia has announced plans to implement mandatory military service starting in 2026, reactivating a conscription law long dormant. Meanwhile, Thailand’s domestic politics remain unsettled, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended from office, and political tensions spilling over into foreign policy.

With military action, civilian targets hit, and diplomacy collapsing, the threat of further bloodshed looms large. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has called for calm but warned that Thailand will not tolerate further attacks:

“We will act within international law, but we will do whatever is necessary to protect our sovereignty and our people.”

For now, the world watches as two neighbors teeter dangerously close to open war — over borders drawn long ago, but still soaked in the blood of today’s innocent civilians.