International Delegation Verifies MK-84 Bomb Site in Cambodia Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Tensions

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International Delegation Verifies MK-84 Bomb Site in Cambodia Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Tensions

Introduction

On Sunday, August 10, 2025, a delegation of 14 defense attachés representing Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Laos, France, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam visited an MK-84 bomb site in Thordaun Village, Koukmoan Commune, Banteay Ampil District, Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia. The visit, organized by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), allowed the attachés to physically verify an unexploded MK-84 bomb, a 1,000 kg aerial weapon manufactured in 1996, dropped during the Thailand-Cambodia border clashes from July 24 to 28, 2025. With operational war records indicating 1,549 bombs dropped in the Oddar Meanchey front, and 10 bombs—four exploded and six unexploded—targeting this site alone, CMAC is intensifying efforts to survey, mark, and clear these hazardous remnants to ensure the safety of returning residents. This article explores the significance of the visit, the characteristics of the MK-84 bomb, CMAC’s response, and the implications for the fragile ceasefire.

Context of the Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, centered on an 800-kilometer frontier including the Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples, has its roots in colonial-era mappings. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings in 1962 and 2013 affirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over Preah Vihear, but disputes over surrounding areas persist. Tensions escalated in May 2025 after a Cambodian soldier’s death, followed by a landmine explosion in July injuring five Thai soldiers. By late July, intense fighting involving Cambodian PHL-81 rocket systems, Thai F-16 and Gripen airstrikes, and artillery exchanges, including cluster munitions, killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000.

A ceasefire, brokered by Malaysia with U.S. and ASEAN support, took effect on July 28, 2025, halting major hostilities. However, incidents such as Thailand’s detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers since July 29, disputes over PMN-2 landmines, and the use of cluster munitions have strained the truce. The MK-84 bomb site in Thordaun Village, one of many affected areas, underscores the conflict’s humanitarian and environmental toll.

The MK-84 Bomb and the Thordaun Village Site

The MK-84, a 2,000-pound (approximately 1,000 kg) general-purpose bomb developed by the United States, measures about 3.5 meters in length and 0.5 meters in diameter. It is designed for high-explosive impact, capable of devastating large areas. CMAC confirmed on August 4, 2025, through inspections by experts from CMAC, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, and Norwegian People’s Aid, that the MK-84 bomb at Thordaun Village bears the serial number LOT No. IMI96GO15-11, indicating manufacture in 1996 by Israel Military Industries (IMI). This finding, verified by former U.S. Marine Corps EOD expert Len Austin, debunks claims that the bomb is a relic of the 1970s Indochina War, confirming its use in the recent conflict.

CMAC’s assessment revealed that Thordaun Village was struck by 10 MK-84 bombs, with four detonating and causing significant damage to homes, farmland, and infrastructure, and six remaining unexploded. These unexploded ordnance (UXO) pose severe risks to civilians, with potential for accidental detonation during farming or construction. Heng Ratana, CMAC Director-General, noted on August 10, 2025, that operational war records document 1,549 bombs dropped across the Oddar Meanchey front, highlighting the scale of the bombardment.

The Defense Attachés’ Visit

The visit by the 14 defense attachés, representing nine countries, was a significant step in international oversight of the conflict’s aftermath. Organized under the Military Attaché Corps Phnom Penh (MACPP), the delegation inspected the Thordaun Village site on August 10, 2025, to verify the MK-84 bomb’s presence and assess the damage. The attachés, hosted by Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, observed the 1,000 kg bomb, which remained embedded in a trench near a damaged shelter, and reviewed CMAC’s preliminary findings. The visit underscored the international community’s concern over the conflict’s humanitarian impact and the use of heavy ordnance in civilian areas.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence used the opportunity to counter Thailand’s denials, with Major General Suvaree asserting on August 5, 2025, that the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) did not drop MK-84 bombs, claiming the rusted condition suggested they were old relics. The attachés’ physical verification, alongside CMAC’s evidence of the 1996 manufacture date, supported Cambodia’s claim that the bombs were recently deployed, likely by Thai F-16 jets, as reported by Khmer Times on July 31, 2025.

CMAC’s Response: Survey, Marking, and Clearance

CMAC has deployed technical teams to survey, mark, and clear the affected areas in Oddar Meanchey, including Thordaun Village, to mitigate the risks posed by the six unexploded MK-84 bombs and other UXO, such as cluster munitions. These efforts involve:

  • Surveying: Using drones and ground teams to locate UXO, with coordinates identified for the six MK-84 bombs in Thordaun Village.

  • Marking: Erecting warning signs and barriers in Khmer and English to alert residents, particularly in high-risk areas near homes and fields.

  • Clearance: Planning controlled detonations or safe removal of the bombs, scheduled for the near future once safety protocols are finalized.

CMAC’s statement on August 10, 2025, emphasized the urgency of these operations to ensure the safety of local residents returning to their homes. “The MK-84 bombs, with their massive explosive power, pose an immense threat if disturbed,” said Nath Ratha, CMAC’s Oddar Meanchey Province Manager. CMAC has urged residents to report any suspected UXO to the hotline (023-880-489), local police, or authorities, as shared in X posts by @Kiripost and @pheaktraneth.

Humanitarian and International Implications

The presence of MK-84 bombs and cluster munitions, as confirmed by CMAC, exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Oddar Meanchey. The four exploded bombs in Thordaun Village destroyed homes and farmland, displacing families and disrupting livelihoods. The six unexploded bombs, alongside M-46 sub-munitions from 155mm shells, threaten returning residents, particularly children and farmers unaware of UXO locations. The damage to nearby Prasat Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from artillery and cluster bombs further highlights the conflict’s cultural toll, with restoration costs estimated at $15 million.

Thailand’s use of MK-84 bombs and cluster munitions has drawn scrutiny under international humanitarian law. While neither country is a signatory to the 2010 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), the use of such weapons in civilian areas violates principles of the 1954 Hague Convention, which protects cultural property. Cambodia’s appeal to the UN Security Council on July 25, 2025, accused Thailand of “reckless and brutal military aggression,” a claim bolstered by the attachés’ visit. Human Rights Watch and the Cluster Munition Coalition have called for a UN investigation, urging both nations to accede to the CCM, joined by 123 countries.

Thailand’s denial, echoed in statements by the Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation on July 31, 2025, claims the MK-84 bombs are not linked to recent Thai F-16 operations. However, the attachés’ verification and CMAC’s evidence challenge this narrative, intensifying diplomatic tensions. The detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers by Thailand since July 29, 2025, and disputes over PMN-2 landmines further strain the ceasefire, with the General Border Committee’s September 8–10 meeting in Siem Reap offering a chance for resolution.

Global Responsibility and Call to Action

The international community’s role, exemplified by the attachés’ visit, is critical to addressing the crisis. The delegation’s findings, reported to ASEAN and the UN, underscore the need for:

  1. Immediate Clearance Funding: Donors like Japan and Norway should support CMAC’s $20 million effort to clear MK-84 bombs and cluster munitions.

  2. Ceasefire Compliance: Thailand and Cambodia must honor the July 28 agreement, including releasing detained soldiers and halting provocations.

  3. Independent Monitoring: ASEAN and UN observers should verify UXO origins and ensure compliance with international law.

  4. Cultural Protection: Both nations must safeguard sites like Prasat Preah Vihear under the 1954 Hague Convention.

  5. Public Awareness: Residents must report UXO sightings to CMAC (023-880-489) or local authorities to prevent accidents.

Conclusion

The visit of 14 defense attachés from nine countries to the MK-84 bomb site in Thordaun Village on August 10, 2025, confirmed the devastating impact of Thailand’s bombardment during the July 2025 border clashes. The 1,000 kg MK-84 bomb, manufactured in 1996, is one of six unexploded ordnance among 1,549 bombs dropped in Oddar Meanchey, posing severe risks to civilians. CMAC’s tireless survey, marking, and clearance efforts are vital to restoring safety, but the scale of the crisis demands international support. As the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire holds precariously on August 20, 2025, the attachés’ verification highlights the urgency of addressing UXO, upholding humanitarian law, and resolving border disputes to prevent further harm to lives and heritage.

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