Published on: December 9, 2025, 09:42h.

Updated on: December 9, 2025, 09:49h.

• Hostilities resumed between Thailand and Cambodia on Monday
• Thai military conducted airstrikes on a Cambodian border casino
• The casino was allegedly serving as a military post

Thailand and Cambodia, each accusing the other of sparking recent skirmishes, have engaged in a series of confrontations over the past 24 hours along their largely ambiguous 500-mile border.

Thailand alleges that Cambodia launched an offensive against its soldiers stationed along the Si Sa Ket border, resulting in one Thai soldier’s death and injuries to eight others. In retaliation, Thailand initiated aerial bombardments with F-16 fighter jets on identified Cambodian military targets.

Among these targets was a casino that Cambodian forces reportedly utilized as a military facility and weapons storage site, which also functioned as a base for military drones.

The Royal Thai Military has pinpointed the casino under attack as the Royal Hill Resort & Casino, conveniently located near the Cambodia-Thailand Chong Chom Border Crossing.

“The operation was necessitated by the casino’s use as a base for Cambodian armed forces to deploy live drones and store BM-21 Grad missile launchers,” stated the Thai military.

“The Royal Thai Air Force executed an airstrike, deploying high-explosive ordnance on the Royal Hill Resort & Casino,” their statement added. 

Casino Insights 

Satellite images indicate that the Royal Hill Resort & Casino was established post-2020. Thai authorities suspect that the facility has been leveraged as a military stronghold for Cambodian troops over the past year amid rising tensions along the border.

The long-standing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has persisted for decades. Former US President Donald Trump claimed he attempted to mediate the hostilities during a July confrontation that lasted almost a week. However, the recent resurgence of violence has negated any previous resolutions.

When questioned about the peace agreement facilitated by Trump, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul remarked, “I am no longer focused on that. It’s too late to revisit.”

Anutin declared Thailand’s stance remains unchanged: No ceasefire will be considered.

Anutin’s senior military official stated their aim is to “debilitate Cambodia’s military capabilities for the foreseeable future.”

“Thailand’s air operations are specifically targeting Cambodian military installations, with a focus on minimizing collateral damage and preventing further Cambodian assaults that have led to Thai losses,” remarked Army Major General Winthai Suvaree.

No Casinos in Thailand

Anutin ascended to the position of Prime Minister in September, elected by the National Assembly’s House of Representatives after Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ousted by a 6-3 decision from the Constitutional Court.

Shinawatra’s brief administration, lasting a mere year, was cut short following a leaked phone conversation in which she criticized her military while speaking with Cambodia’s leader, Hun Sen.

Shinawatra was a proponent of introducing Las Vegas-style casinos in Thailand. In the aftermath of her removal, Anutin made a strategic pivot, opting to withdraw support from the gaming initiative to placate China.

“We have alternative strategies to enhance the economy,” Anutin affirmed following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month.