BANGKOK – The Thai army has expressed suspicions that foreign nationals may be operating the bomber drones used by Cambodian forces in the ongoing border clashes. The 2nd Army Area, responsible for Thailand’s northeastern frontier, raised the alarm in a Facebook post on Thursday, citing radio intercepts during drone attacks that featured English communications.

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According to the military, the word “finished” was heard over the radio at key moments coinciding with pauses in drone strikes. Furthermore, motorcyclists were reportedly seen leaving hills near the Chong An Ma conflict zone in Ubon Ratchathani province immediately after attacks ceased, suggesting coordinated ground support for the aerial operations.

The drones in use are identified as First-Person View (FPV) models, equipped with 82-mm mortar rounds and controlled via optical fiber links. They are typically supported by slower reconnaissance drones for target identification. The tactic involves using these “suicide drones” to attack Thai bunkers, with shrapnel designed to injure soldiers taking cover.

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"​Alerting everyone: If you see a [Cambodian] drone flying low, find a safe place to take shelter. Currently, an enemy drone has flown into the Trat city area, and several explosions have been heard. Please return to your… pic.twitter.com/xI9wQjBxPO

— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) December 13, 2025

These suspicions echo earlier social media speculation from this year, which suggested foreigners, possibly Russians, were assisting the Cambodian military. This theory was fueled by a photograph circulating online that showed two tall, muscular men in military attire alongside Cambodian soldiers. At the time, former Deputy Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit clarified that the individuals were Cambodian officers who were also athletes and YouTubers, and stated there was no evidence of Russian-language communication in military operations, though investigations were ongoing.

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The latest allegations add a new layer of complexity to the conflict, implying potential foreign involvement in the technical execution of Cambodia’s drone warfare campaign against Thai positions.

-Thailand News (TN)