Flash Report: Cambodia starts new conflict with Thailand using BM-21 rocket launchers to strike border targets.

According to information published by Reuters on July 25, 2025, the first clash between Cambodian and Thai forces erupted on July 23, 2025, when Cambodian armed forces launched a sudden rocket attack using Soviet-made BM-21 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) against Thai military positions near the Preah Vihear temple zone. The unexpected barrage triggered an immediate response from Thailand, marking the beginning of the most serious escalation between the two nations in over a decade. Fighting has since expanded into at least six contested zones, including Thailand’s Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians from both sides of the border.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

A Cambodian BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system fires toward Thai border positions during a cross-border strike, as seen in footage published on the X account of Baba Banaras on July 24, 2025.

The context of the conflict centers on the long-standing border dispute between the two countries, particularly near the Preah Vihear Temple area, where sovereignty over surrounding territory remains contested despite a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice. Tensions reignited in May 2025 following a landmine incident that injured Thai soldiers, with both sides escalating troop deployments and artillery placements along the 209-kilometer stretch of border. A series of skirmishes and diplomatic breakdowns in June culminated in a full-scale exchange of fire in July.

The conflict has involved significant deployment of modern combat equipment. Cambodian armed forces initiated the attack using BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, Soviet-era artillery pieces, and 122mm field guns, reportedly striking Thai border outposts and civilian zones. In response, the Royal Thai Army deployed T-84 Oplot main battle tanks, M113 armored personnel carriers, and artillery units equipped with M198 155mm howitzers. The Royal Thai Air Force also launched F-16 Fighting Falcons in precision airstrikes against Cambodian armored units, reportedly destroying at least two tanks near the Khao Sattasom region.

One of the most destructive elements of the Cambodian offensive has been the concentrated use of BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Cambodian units launched dozens of 122mm rockets in coordinated salvos targeting Thai border positions, military checkpoints, and infrastructure. The BM-21 batteries were reportedly deployed in mobile configurations from concealed forested positions near the Dangrek Mountains, allowing rapid shoot-and-scoot operations. Cambodian sources claim the strikes were in response to Thai incursions, while Thai authorities condemned the rocket fire as indiscriminate and directed at civilian zones.

The rocket attacks inflicted significant damage in Sisaket province. One salvo struck a petrol station and a nearby hospital, causing fires and civilian casualties. Another wave of rockets damaged rural schools and agricultural areas, forcing mass evacuations. The BM-21 Grad system, originally developed by the Soviet Union, can launch up to 40 rockets within 20 seconds at a range of up to 20 kilometers. Cambodian forces are believed to have between 15 to 20 operational units of this system, acquired from Eastern Bloc surplus stocks and China in the early 2000s.

In response, Thailand’s military launched targeted counter-battery fire using 155mm howitzers and deployed F-16 fighter jets to strike suspected BM-21 launch zones. According to the Thai military command, at least three rocket-launching vehicles were destroyed near the Preah Vihear district during airstrikes, and two Cambodian tanks were neutralized. The Thai Army has also activated drone reconnaissance units to monitor Cambodian artillery movements and preempt further rocket attacks.

The Cambodian armed forces, numbering approximately 125,000 personnel, rely on legacy Soviet and Chinese systems, with limited modernization. The BM-21 remains their most powerful mobile artillery weapon. Thailand, in contrast, possesses superior command and control, precision strike capabilities, and airpower. With over 360,000 personnel and platforms such as the F-16, JAS 39 Gripen, VT4 and T-84 tanks, and BTR-3E1 8x8 armored personnel carriers, Thailand holds a technological and operational advantage.

With over 58,000 Thai civilians and more than 4,000 Cambodians displaced, the humanitarian crisis is growing. Thailand has filed an urgent appeal to the UN Security Council, calling Cambodia’s use of unguided rockets a violation of international humanitarian law. ASEAN has called for immediate talks, while the United States and China are monitoring the situation closely to avoid regional destabilization.