Thailand-Cambodia War: Rocket Warehouse Bombed – Oil Blockade
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Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict Escalates
Table of Contents
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Tensions on the border of Thailand and Cambodia have risen drastically to dangerous levels. The Thai military confirmed that it had destroyed cambodia’s BM-21 rocket weapons warehouse near Poipet and expanded its naval blockade of oil supplies and war logistics to its neighboring country on Thursday (December 18, 2025).
This air attack was a direct response to the Cambodian attack which fired around 100 BM-21 rockets into Thai territory in sa Kaeo Province on Wednesday night. This conflict is rooted in an old territorial dispute regarding the demarcation of the 800 kilometer long border which is a legacy of the colonial era, as well as the fight over a number of ancient temple ruins on the border.
Historical Context and Territorial Dispute
The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute is a complex issue stemming from colonial-era maps and differing interpretations of historical boundaries.The 800-kilometer border is especially contentious around the Preah Vihear Temple complex. this temple, perched on a cliff overlooking both countries, has been a source of nationalist sentiment and legal battles for decades.
Key Events in the Dispute:
- 1962: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the temple to Cambodia, but the surrounding territory remained disputed.
- 2008-2011: Armed clashes erupted near Preah Vihear, resulting in casualties on both sides.
- 2013: The ICJ clarified its 1962 ruling, but the interpretation of the surrounding area remained a point of contention.
- Present: Ongoing border negotiations have stalled, leading to increased military presence and sporadic incidents.
Recent Escalation (December 2025)
Thai Airstrike on Cambodian Rocket Warehouse
Royal Thai Air Force spokesman, Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai, reported that the airstrike succeeded in destroying a logistics center used by Cambodia to collect BM-21 rockets outside the city of Poipet. According to him, this type of rocket was previously used by Cambodia to attack Thai military personnel and civilians.
“Prior to the attack, the Thai armed forces had conducted intelligence to confirm that it was a military target. We observed trucks loading BM-21 rockets at the facility and its surroundings,” explained Jackkrit. He emphasized that this operation was carried out with humanitarian and proportional principles,and ensured that there where no civilians at the target location.
Cambodian Rocket Attack on Sa Kaeo Province
On Wednesday night, Cambodian forces launched approximately 100 BM-21 rockets into Thai territory in Sa Kaeo Province. The attack caused damage to property and resulted in minor injuries to civilians. Thai authorities have condemned the attack as a clear act of aggression.