Thai F-16 Strikes Cambodia as Border Dispute Intensifies

Published on: July 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
File image of a Royal Thai Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon (DoD photo by Capt. Joshua Gunderson, U.S. Air Force). Inset left: Imagery of the airstrike released by the Thai military. Inset right: Image of guided bomb marked with handwritten messages. (Images via X)

Thailand’s armed forces have confirmed that one F-16 aircraft in a flight of six opened fire at what it claimed to be a Cambodian military target as the two countries’ border dispute erupts into armed clashes.

Contested borders between Thailand and Cambodia have been a source of tension, and occasional violence, for decades. These tensions were reignited following the death of a Cambodian soldier during a brief firefight with Thai forces in May. The border has now been officially closed as direct conflict between Thai and Cambodian forces occurred at multiple locations on Jul. 24, 2025. Thailand has reported 12 fatalities from Cambodian shelling, while casualty reports from Cambodia have yet to fully materialise.

Escalating their response following these artillery strikes, Thailand authorized the use of airstrikes against Cambodian targets, leading to the deployment of six F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). One of these fighters is said to have opened fire, dropping at least two bombs on a road in Cambodia which Thailand claims as a military target. Cambodia has condemned this strike, it says against a civilian target, as “reckless and brutal military aggression”.

Video footage showing the F-16s being armed and launched from their base indicate the use of Mark 82 500 lb bombs fitted with Lizard guidance kits, manufactured by Elbit Systems.

Bombs could be seen with handwritten markings, including “Hello Hunsen” – likely referring to Cambodian President of the Senate Hun Sen.

With no operational fighter aircraft of its own, the Royal Cambodian Air Force has only a limited capability to repel air attacks by RTAF aircraft. Ground based air defence (GBAD) include Soviet era anti aircraft guns and some more modern Chinese missile systems, including the HQ-12 radar guided surface to air missile. Cambodian sources initially claimed that one RTAF F-16 had been downed by these air defences but this was swiftly refuted by Thailand.

In anticipation of further conflict, Thailand has evacuated around 40,000 civilians from settlements in the border areas and recalled its ambassador from Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Cambodia has struck targets in Thailand using BM-21 ‘Grad’ rocket artillery, and is also reported to be using small drones for cross-border intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). One BM-21 rocket struck a fuel station in Si Saket Province, resulting in at least eight casualties and a massive plume of smoke. Armored vehicles, including main battle tanks, have been noted deploying to the border on both sides.

The Royal Thai Army has codenamed its operation ‘Yuttha Bodin’, roughly translating to ‘Battle for the Sacred Land’. This is accompanied by a motto which includes the phrase “crush all who trespass on Thai soil”.

Both sides in the conflict have been supplied military equipment by China, although Thailand integrates these pieces alongside many Western built systems. Thai equipment, on the whole, is more modern and plentiful than their Cambodian counterparts. In June, the RTAF confirmed its choice of the Gripen E/F as its new fighter, replacing some of its oldest F-16s.

This is a developing situation, and we will endeavor to bring you more updates when possible. 

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Kai is an aviation enthusiast and freelance photographer and writer based in Cornwall, UK. They are a graduate of BA (Hons) Press & Editorial Photography at Falmouth University. Their photographic work has been featured by a number of nationally and internationally recognised organisations and news publications, and in 2022 they self-published a book focused on the history of Cornwall. They are passionate about all aspects of aviation, alongside military operations/history, international relations, politics, intelligence and space.
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