Over the past two weeks, Thailand's Sa Kaeo province, just kilometers from the Cambodian border, has faced relentless rocket barrages. CGTN reporter Dusita Saokaew, reporting from a frontline bunker, counts more than 100 BM-21 rockets striking farms and villages since early December 2025.
The impact is stark: checkpoints are tightened, roads lie silent, and local shelters have become the only refuge. "We spend our nights here, listening to blasts echoing through the walls," says a villager huddled beside reporters. Daily routines have ground to a halt as families wait for signs of calm.
This cross-border exchange of fire marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Thai and Cambodian forces. While neither side has claimed responsibility publicly, the use of BM-21 rocket launchers, a long-range artillery system, underscores the conflict's growing intensity.
For neighboring communities and travelers, the situation sends ripples across the region. Local markets report a drop in customers, and small businesses near the border have paused operations. Security experts warn that prolonged clashes could threaten supply chains and undermine confidence in cross-border trade routes.
Officials have increased patrols and urged residents to follow safety advisories. Yet, with no ceasefire in sight, the people of Sa Kaeo remain in limbo, holding onto hope for de-escalation while preparing each night to take cover once more.
Reference(s):
Rockets hit Sa Kaeo: Inside a frontline bunker on Thailand's border
cgtn.com
