Thailand Conducts Airstrikes Against Cambodian Military Facilities Over Chinese-Made Rocket Threat

Bangkok:

Thailand's military conducted airstrikes on Monday targeting Cambodian military installations housing long-range artillery after intelligence indicated that rockets, including a Chinese-manufactured variant, could potentially be used against civilian areas, according to a Thai military official.

The Southeast Asian neighbors experienced their most severe conflict since a five-day engagement in July, with both countries accusing each other of violating a ceasefire that had been negotiated by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Defense ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri explained that based on weapon movements and their range capabilities, Thailand's military assessed that Cambodian forces might employ Soviet-designed BM-21 and Chinese-made PHL-03 rockets to target a provincial airport and a government-operated district hospital.

"Based on our intelligence as well, there have been attempts ... to lock on the coordinates of these facilities," Surasant told Reuters, without providing further details.

Thai intelligence indicated the airstrikes were directed at military depots that included rocket storage facilities, he stated.

Reuters could not independently confirm the impact of the Thai air force operations.

A representative for Cambodia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to detailed inquiries from Reuters. Cambodia has previously denied targeting civilian infrastructure.

The potential threat posed by the PHL-03 rockets has not been previously reported.

Under the ceasefire agreement terms, both nations began withdrawing heavy weapons from the border in November through a three-phase process, beginning with rocket systems, followed by artillery, and then tanks and other armored vehicles.

However, Thailand announced a week later that it was suspending implementation of the ceasefire agreement after a landmine explosion injured a Thai soldier.

Cambodia's military, which is significantly smaller than Thailand's armed forces, possesses approximately 48 BM-21s and only six PHL-03 multiple rocket launchers, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.

According to a U.S. military database, the PHL-03 is capable of firing both guided and unguided rockets with a range between 70-130 km, while the BM-21 has a 15-40 km range.

The Buriram airport, a civilian facility serving Buriram Province, a stronghold of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's governing party, is situated approximately 100 kilometers from the border, beyond the BM-21's range capability.

The Prasat Hospital, located in neighboring Surin Province, is less than 30 km from the border.

In a Monday statement, Thailand's air force announced it had deployed aircraft to strike military targets after Cambodia mobilized heavy weaponry and repositioned its combat units.

"These developments prompted the use of air power to deter and reduce Cambodia's military capabilities to the minimum level necessary to safeguard national security and protect civilians," the statement said.

During the July conflict, which resulted in at least 48 fatalities and temporarily displaced an estimated 300,000 people, Thailand's military accused Cambodia of firing BM-21s into civilian areas and warned that the PHL-03 could also be deployed.

"This time around, the Cambodians are more prepared" for targeted strikes, Surasant noted.

Thailand's military alleged that Cambodian troops initiated the latest hostilities by firing upon Thai soldiers on Sunday, wounding two.

Cambodia rejected this accusation, instead claiming that the Thai military launched a dawn attack on Monday.