Thailand has launched significant airstrikes using F-16 fighter jets on Cambodian military targets along their long-disputed border, marking a sharp escalation in months of rising tensions and deadly clashes. The aerial assault came shortly after intense cross-border fighting erupted early on July 24, 2025, following artillery and rocket attacks from both sides.
According to the Royal Thai Army, the airstrikes targeted the 8th Support Division Headquarters and the 9th Support Division Brigade in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, areas identified as sources of recent shelling and attacks on Thai villages. Thai deputy army spokesperson Colonel Richa Suksuwanon confirmed that air power was deployed against designated military sites "as planned," describing the strikes as a defensive action following provocations from Cambodian forces.
Cambodian officials confirmed the airstrikes, stating that bombs were dropped on a roadway leading to a pagoda, and condemned the aggression. Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet declared that while his country seeks peaceful solutions, it was compelled to respond with military force against what he termed "armed incursion" by Thailand.
The escalating conflict has resulted in casualties, including civilian deaths in the northeastern Thai region of Isan. Reports indicate at least nine civilians dead and multiple injuries on the Thai side, with Cambodian sources also reporting casualties. The fighting has spread across multiple hotspots along the 817-kilometre contested border, with artillery, rocket fire, and gun battles reported near significant landmarks such as Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple.
In reaction to the violence, both countries have expelled each other’s ambassadors, marking the lowest diplomatic point in more than a decade. Evacuations of civilians from affected Thai provinces are underway as shelling and missile strikes continue, causing destruction to homes, infrastructure, and commercial properties.
This latest military flare-up follows a series of incidents, including a Cambodian soldier killed last month, a Thai soldier losing a limb from a landmine, and mutual accusations of violating sovereignty. The ongoing dispute centers on an undemarcated section of the Thailand-Cambodia border, with both sides accusing the other of initiating hostilities.
As of now, diplomatic and military efforts to de-escalate remain challenging, with both nations preparing for further confrontations while international calls urge peaceful resolution.
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