Thai Military denies Cambodia’s fake news claim of shooting down F-16 and territorial conquest
Thailand's Defence Ministry rejects false claims from Cambodia regarding the downing of an F-16 and accusations of territorial expansion. The situation on the border remains tense.
Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Defence Ministry, confirmed on Friday that the ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia continue across the entire border region. He urged the public to be cautious of fake news from Cambodia, such as reports claiming that Cambodia had shot down a Thai F-16 fighter jet. He also refuted claims made by Casey Barnett, a foreign resident of Cambodia, who falsely stated on social media that Thailand's military operations aimed to seize and annex Cambodian territory.
Surasant firmly asserted that Thailand’s position has always been clear: military operations are carried out solely to defend the country's sovereignty and independence while respecting the sovereignty of other nations, even those that pose a threat to Thailand.
As of now, the impact on Thai civilians has been significant, with 251,222 people displaced and seeking refuge in 985 temporary shelters. There has been one reported death from direct Cambodian attacks, while 22 others have died from indirect effects of the conflict. Six civilians have been injured from Cambodian attacks, and 20 hospitals, along with 201 local health centres, have been affected.
Meanwhile, the Joint Press Center on the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation also clarified reports regarding the crash of a Thai Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) near Poipet, Cambodia, on the night of December 17, 2025. The centre confirmed the report, stating that a DP-20 UAV experienced a loss of control at approximately 20:00 hrs, with the last signal detected about 10 kilometres east of Poipet.
The DP-20 UAV, developed by the Defence Technology Institute of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence, is in the research and testing phase and has been deployed to support Royal Thai Army operations. The Royal Thai Armed Forces are currently investigating the cause of the crash, which may have resulted from multiple factors. Once verified, the findings will be used to improve the UAV's performance and reliability.
