Thai F-16 Strike at Poipet Depot Halts Border Trade, Strands Thousands
As dawn broke over Sa Kaeo province, the familiar hum of F-16 fighter jets replaced the usual chatter of border traders, marking a stark reminder of the Thai-Cambodian frontier tensions that have flared up again.
Quick Highlights
• Precision airstrike on an arms depot near Poipet
• BM-21 multiple rocket launchers targeted after recent cross-border attacks
• Thailand insists on self-defence under December 2025 escalations
• Cambodia condemns the raid and appeals to ASEAN
Rising Tensions at the Border
The long-standing dispute over the disputed territory west of Poipet has surged into the spotlight once more. Thai authorities report that BM-21 multiple rocket launchers stationed just east of the checkpoint have been used in strikes against Surin and Sa Kaeo province. Local officials say small villages and cross-border checkpoints have come under sporadic fire since early December, unsettling communities on both sides. Despite occasional diplomatic overtures, skirmishes have persisted, rattling markets and layering fresh anxiety over what was once a seasonal cattle and rice trading route.
Inside the Airstrike Operation
According to the Royal Thai Air Force, the morning sortie at around 11am employed F-16s armed with precision-guided munitions to neutralise an arms depot and adjoining logistics centre identified through an intelligence assessment. Footage released by the command shows secondary explosions ripping through rows of stored rockets. Spokesperson AM Chakkrit Thammavichai emphasised that all assets struck were purely military and that the strike complied with international norms. The air force insists there were no civilian structures in the blast zone and that collateral damage was carefully minimised.
Civilian Impact and Conflicting Accounts
Cambodian authorities have painted a different picture. They claim the bombs fell close to the casino district in Poipet, injuring two local residents and shattering shopfronts. Thai officials counter with satellite imagery showing zero heat signatures in living quarters. Meanwhile, medical teams on both sides treat the wounded, and community groups lament interruptions to cross-border trade. Social media has become a flashpoint for competing narratives, with each side railing against alleged information warfare and disputed official counts of casualties.
Legal and Diplomatic Stakes
Bangkok frames its actions as legitimate self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, invoking the principle of proportionality. Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul have both rejected calls for mediation unless Cambodia first halts its incursions. Phnom Penh, in turn, has threatened to bring the matter before the International Court of Justice and has formally protested via diplomatic channels. In the background, Deng Xijun, China’s special envoy, and ASEAN foreign ministers are gearing up for an emergency meeting on December 22 to push for de-escalation.
Economic and Social Ripples
The abrupt closure of major crossing points at Aranyaprathet and Poipet has stranded an estimated 12,000 Thai nationals, inflicted a 68% drop in border trade, and put ฿4B of year-end shipments at risk. Migrant workers face uncertainty, while local entrepreneurs watch once-bustling markets fall silent. Transport services report cancelled routes, and hotels that normally host visiting shoppers now stand half-empty. The downturn is a stark reminder that even limited military exchanges can trigger cascading effects on livelihoods and regional supply chains.
Looking Ahead: Ceasefire Prospects
As families prepare for the holiday season, the urgency to restore calm has never been greater. Observers note several pathways:
Rapid de-escalation through ASEAN pressure and a monitored buffer zone
Prolonged stalemate with intermittent skirmishes but limited civilian harm
Broader escalation if heavy weaponry drifts into populated areas
For thousands living along the border, the hope is simple: withdrawal of heavy weapons, renewed community dialogue, and a return to peaceful holiday trade. Until then, the roar of jet engines remains the latest soundtrack of this long-running dispute.
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