Bangkok/Phnom Penh – Thailand launched its first airstrike in decades against Cambodia on Thursday, deploying an F-16 fighter jet to bomb military targets across the border in retaliation for artillery attacks that killed at least nine Thai civilians, including a child. The dramatic escalation marks the most severe military confrontation between the neighboring nations in years.

Cambodian Rocket Attacks Kill Nine Thai Civilians in Escalating Border Conflict

The Thai military confirmed one of six F-16s stationed along the disputed frontier executed the strike, destroying a Cambodian military position. “We have exercised our right to self-defense against clear aggression,” said Thai Army Deputy Spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry condemned the “reckless brutality” of the bombing, claiming two munitions struck a roadway.

The violence erupted hours after Thailand recalled its ambassador and ordered Cambodia’s envoy expelled—a response to Wednesday’s landmine blast that cost a Thai soldier his leg, the second such incident in a week. Tensions boiled over at dawn when Cambodian forces allegedly shelled a Thai military base and civilian areas, including a hospital, in Surin province.

Civilian Toll Mounts

The conflict’s human cost became starkly visible in Si Sa Ket province, where six civilians died in a rocket attack on a gas station—the deadliest single incident. Terrified residents, including elderly and children, fled to concrete shelters reinforced with sandbags and tires as artillery fire echoed across border villages. “The explosions haven’t stopped,” one woman told Thai PBS from a Surin bunker.

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry vowed further defensive measures if attacks continue, while Cambodia denounced the airstrike as “unprovoked” and demanded Thai forces withdraw. The clashes center on contested territory near ancient temple sites, where decades-old disputes have reignited with unprecedented intensity.

Thailand Escalates Diplomatic Row With Cambodia After Landmine Blast

With borders now closed and tens of thousands evacuating, regional powers monitor nervously as two ASEAN members edge closer to full-scale conflict. The UN Security Council is expected to address the crisis in an emergency session Friday.

-Thailand News (TN)