BANGKOK – According to the Royal Thai Army, Cambodian forces unleashed a barrage of BM-21 Grad rockets early Wednesday morning, with several projectiles landing perilously close to Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province. The attack, which prompted the swift evacuation of patients and medical staff into an on-site bunker, has drawn sharp condemnation from Thai military officials as a blatant violation of humanitarian norms.
The Second Army Region, responsible for northeastern Thailand’s defenses, reported the incident occurring at approximately 8:40 a.m. local time. According to a statement from the army’s public affairs page, Cambodian troops fired at least six BM-21 rockets toward the hospital and surrounding areas in Phanom Dong Rak district. “Urgent: Cambodia fired BM-21 rockets landing at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital and nearby zones—six rounds,” the post read, confirming that all patients and personnel had been relocated to safety within minutes. No casualties were immediately reported at the facility.
This is not the first time Phanom Dong Rak Hospital has found itself in the crosshairs of the conflict. The facility, a critical healthcare hub serving thousands in Surin Province near the border, was previously struck by Cambodian artillery during clashes in July 2025, resulting in extensive structural damage and the evacuation of over 70 patients.
The broader assault on December 10th marked an intensification of the border skirmishes that have plagued the region since early December. Thai military sources detailed a pre-dawn rocket salvo beginning around 7:15 a.m., with over 50 BM-21 rounds slamming into civilian areas across Phanom Dong Rak subdistricts, including Tambon Ta Miang, Bak Dai, and Chik Daek. Of these, five rockets cratered perilously near the hospital, scattering shrapnel across its perimeter. Surin bore the brunt of the barrage, absorbing around 20 of the total 50 rockets fired into four provinces: Buriram, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani.
In response, Thai forces mobilized the 6th Ranger Regiment to secure the hospital perimeter, while local police and bomb disposal teams from Phanom Dong Rak station began surveying blast sites for unexploded ordnance and evidence. “We condemn this reckless bombardment of civilian infrastructure,” said a Second Army Region spokesperson in a briefing to foreign military attachés.
The clashes trace back to longstanding territorial disputes, particularly around ancient Khmer temple sites like Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom, where sovereignty claims have fueled intermittent violence since 2008.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
