Archive · 8 Dec 2025
Thailand Strikes Cambodia Over Rocket Threat
Thailand and Cambodia have a disputed border area.
They had a five-day war in July, but then agreed to a ceasefire.
Recently, Thailand said they launched air strikes because they think Cambodia broke the ceasefire.
Cambodia says Thailand started the fight.
Both countries are blaming each other for not following the agreement.
A Thai soldier was killed and several others were wounded in the clashes.
The ceasefire was helped by the leaders of the United States and Malaysia.
Thailand has a much larger and better-equipped military than Cambodia, with more personnel, aircraft, and naval vessels.
Thailand's military believes Cambodia could use rockets to hit civilian areas, so they attacked military facilities to prevent this.
Thailand launched air strikes on December 8, 2023, targeting Cambodian military facilities housing long-range artillery, including Chinese-made PHL-03 rockets.
Thai intelligence indicated that Cambodian forces could use these rockets to hit civilian areas like Buriram airport and Prasat Hospital.
Both countries accuse each other of breaching the ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in October 2023.
Thailand claims Cambodian forces initiated the hostilities, while Cambodia denies this and accuses Thailand of launching a dawn attack.
Thailand has a significantly larger and better-equipped military than Cambodia, with more personnel, aircraft, and naval vessels.
- Who
- Thailand and Cambodia
- What
- Air strikes and border clashes
- When
- December 8, 2023
- Where
- Disputed border area between Thailand and Cambodia
- Why
- Accusations of breaching a ceasefire agreement and potential threat from long-range rockets
Thailand
Cambodia
Initiation of Conflict
Thailand
Thailand claims Cambodian forces initiated the hostilities by firing at Thai soldiers on Sunday, wounding two.
Cambodia
Cambodia denies this, accusing the Thai military of launching a dawn attack on Monday.
Ceasefire Violations
Thailand
Thailand alleges that Cambodian forces breached the ceasefire by mobilizing heavy weaponry and repositioning combat units.
Cambodia
Cambodia claims Thailand violated the ceasefire by launching airstrikes.
Military Capabilities
Thailand
Thailand has a significantly larger and better-equipped military, with more personnel, aircraft, and naval vessels.
Cambodia
Cambodia's military is far outsized by the Thai armed forces, with fewer resources and capabilities.
- Countries Involved
- Thailand and Cambodia
- Date of Air Strikes
- December 8, 2023
- Previous Conflict Duration
- Five days in July 2023
- Ceasefire Brokers
- U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
- Ceasefire Deal Location
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Casualties
- 1 Thai soldier killed, 4 wounded
- Location of Clashes
- Ubon Ratchathani province (Thailand), Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey (Cambodia)
- Time of Attack
- Early Monday morning
- Cambodia's Defence Budget (2024)
- Not specified
- Cambodia's Active Military Personnel
- 124,300
- Thailand's Defence Budget (2024)
- Not specified
- Thailand's Active Military Personnel
- 360,000+
- Thailand's Combat Aircraft
- 112
- Cambodia's Combat Aircraft
- 0
- PHL-03 Rocket Range
- 70-130 km
- BM-21 Rocket Range
- 15-40 km
- Potential Targets
- Buriram airport and Prasat Hospital
Sources
Thai army says air strikes launched along disputed border area with Cambodia
Trump's peace deal hangs in balance – Thailand–Cambodia tensions surge as Thai air strikes break months of calm
Thai Soldier Killed, Many Injured As New Clashes Break Out On Cambodia Border
Thai army says air strikes launched along disputed border area with Cambodia
Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia: Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement in shambles
Thailand launches air strikes at Cambodia as border tensions reignite
Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia in a setback to Trump's ceasefire deal
Thailand Launches Air Strikes At Cambodia As Border Tensions Reignite
How do Cambodia and Thailands militaries compare?
Factbox-How do Cambodia and Thailand’s militaries compare?
Thailand-Cambodia conflict LIVE updates: Air strikes target Cambodian military after border clashes kill Thai soldier
Thailand-Cambodia Tensions Rise: Does Military Imbalance A Key Factor?
Thailand launches airstrikes along border with Cambodia as tensions reignite, one Thai soldier killed
Thailand launches air strikes at Cambodia as border tensions reignite
Thai soldier killed in fresh border clash
How Thailand-Cambodia conflict went from Trump-backed ceasefire to airstrikes
Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia: Fresh border conflict erupts despite Trump-mediated peace deal
Thailand launches airstrikes at Cambodia as border tensions reignite
How does Cambodia's army stack up against Thailand?
Thailand-Cambodia Conflict Live Updates: At least 1 Thai soldier killed, 3 Cambodian civilians wounded as Thailand launches airstrikes into Cambodia
Cambodia slams ‘inhumane, brutal’ strikes by Thailand as four civilians killed in fresh clashes
Thailand launches strikes into Cambodia: What is the conflict, and the temple at its midst
US-Brokered Ceasefire Falters? How do Thailand and Cambodia's Militaries Compare - Explained
Thailand aims to cripple Cambodia’s military capability to neutralise threat, general says
China-made rocket among triggers for Thai airstrikes into Cambodia
