In July this year, intense border clashes erupted between Cambodia and Thailand, with Thailand even deploying F-16 fighter jets and briefly entering Cambodian territory. Subsequently, under the coordination of Malaysia and the United States, the two sides reached a ceasefire agreement. However, in the past few months, the overall situation between the two sides has been far from peaceful, with frequent tensions. Thailand has been continuously accusing Cambodia of planting landmines in border areas, actions that have resulted in the injury of multiple Thai soldiers and a civilian.
On December 7th, a 35-minute military conflict took place in Thailand’s Sisaket Province, ending at 2:50 PM local time. It was reported that Cambodian troops initiated the gunfire, resulting in two Thai soldiers being wounded by gunfire, followed by a counterattack by Thai forces. Thailand claimed that Cambodian troops used recoilless rifles.
On that day, the Thai Second Army announced border evacuations in Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, and Udon Thani provinces. Hundreds of villagers were evacuated during the night.
The footage we see now shows Thai military forces hastily assembling tanks, artillery, and armored vehicles at the border on the night of December 7th to 8th. On December 8th, the Royal Thai Air Force launched airstrikes on Cambodia’s border areas.
Video footage from December 8th afternoon shows various Royal Thai Army machine gun teams engaging in cross-border firefights. They were seen using the Belgian-made FN MAG general-purpose machine guns to fire at enemy positions while the sound of M203 grenade launcher shots can be heard distinctly in the video.
Another video clip shows Cambodian soldiers at the front line having a meal in a trench with their weapons nearby. Upon hearing artillery fire in the distance, the soldiers quickly take cover, indicating the tense and intense combat environment at the front lines.
Additionally, frontline images indicate that Thai forces appear to be using multiple rocket launch systems deployed on flat terrain to sustain continuous bombardment on Cambodian positions.
In another video segment, Cambodian army units were shown deploying and using Czechoslovakian-produced RM-70 multiple rocket launchers in concealed areas near the forest for firepower deployment.
In online footage, the Royal Thai Army is seen using tanks, specifically the Stingray light tank manufactured in the United States, in combat operations at the front lines. The Thai military is one of the heaviest users of this tank model.
The Stingray tank, manufactured by Cadillac in the early 1990s, weighs only 22 tons and is classified as a light tank. Equipped with a 105mm rifled gun, it can fire various types of ammunition. Its armor defense is relatively weaker, primarily made of aluminum alloy, offering protection mainly against machine guns and shell fragments.
Thailand’s selection of this tank is primarily due to its weight, which suits tropical terrains well, enabling smooth movement in jungles, wetlands, and simple roads. In Southeast Asia, a 105mm gun is considered sufficient to deal with various tanks and armored vehicles. Moreover, its procurement and maintenance costs are comparably low among main battle tanks.
In the footage, Thai soldiers are seen using carbines to shoot down a Cambodian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the air, with the UAV subsequently crashing and burning, resulting in jubilation among the Thai soldiers on the ground.
In one video clip, F-16 fighter jets are shown bombing a Cambodian military camp near the border. The bombing raid was carried out by the Thai Air Force.
Furthermore, another video segment displays Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jets launching airstrikes on Cambodian command posts and artillery positions in the Oddar Meanchey Province.
In addition, there is footage showing the Thai Royal Army shelling a forested area near the border. The targeted location was reportedly a Cambodian artillery position.
Looking at the map, Thailand has advanced beyond the border, extending its control line forward in the border areas shared with Cambodia. Thailand holds high ground on one side, while Cambodia’s terrain is relatively flat.
Video footage reveals that Thai troops have crossed into Cambodia, occupying the disputed border village of Phala Zan. Thailand claims its actions were in self-defense following an attack by Cambodia in the region.
Another piece of evidence supporting Thailand’s incursion into Cambodian territory comes from a video released by the Royal Thai Army showing soldiers using anti-material rifles to destroy a Golden Horse monument located within Cambodia, built to commemorate the Third Support Division of the Royal Cambodian Army.
On December 8th, Thai Prime Minister Chanvira Kulkul announced the termination of the peace treaty signed with Cambodia several months earlier, guaranteed by Malaysia and the United States, and ordered the closure of all other negotiation channels with Cambodia.
On December 8th, the Cambodian military issued a statement, revealing they had been subjected to attacks from Thailand involving F-16 fighter jets, small arms, artillery, and armored vehicles. They clarified that they did not retaliate against the Thai military’s actions.
Footage captured in Cambodia shows soldiers from the Royal Cambodian Army unloading various heavy weapons from trucks, one of which appears to be the Chinese-made Type 56 recoilless gun.
The Type 56 recoilless gun was a widely used infantry anti-tank weapon in the People’s Liberation Army in the late 1950s and 1960s, effective against armored targets or fortifications. Its design was inspired by the American-made M40 106mm recoilless gun. Fifty years ago, it was a crucial anti-tank weapon in the PLA’s infantry units.
In another video captured by local residents, multiple flashes are seen passing overhead in the distance, likely indicating Cambodia using BM21 series rocket launchers to launch rockets towards Thai positions, firing at least a dozen rockets.
At 2:30 PM on December 8th, Thailand issued a final ultimatum to Cambodia to cease fire by 6:00 PM, threatening to employ its full military might if not complied with. Subsequently, Thailand stated it would continue military operations against Cambodia.
Since the military conflicts erupted in July and despite a ceasefire agreement being reached, the past four months have witnessed ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia at the border. There have been several minor skirmishes, with Cambodia persistently increasing landmine activities in border areas, resulting in casualties among Thai soldiers and civilians. The trigger for this large-scale conflict was Cambodia’s attack on Thai camps in the border regions, leading to two Thai soldiers being injured. Subsequently, the military clashes between the two sides escalated, with Thai forces penetrating border villages in Cambodia but not advancing deep into Cambodian territory.
Currently, the local situation appears highly unstable, with the possibility of intensified Thai airstrikes; however, the likelihood of a large-scale ground war breaking out seems low. This concludes the latest updates on the Thailand-Cambodia conflict for today.
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