At 17:10 local time on July 24, 2025, the Thai military launched "Operation Bodin," directly attacking Cambodia, including ground operations and air strikes. It is reported to be the most intense air strike ever launched by the Thai military against the Cambodian military. According to reports, T-55 and 59D tanks of the Cambodian Army engaged in combat with T-84 "Fort" tanks and M60 tanks of the Royal Thai Army near the border between the two countries. It is reported that the Cambodian Army deployed multiple 59D tanks for a counterattack to reclaim lost territory, but was met with strong resistance from the Thai military. Even the Thai ground forces called in F-16 fighter jets to bomb back the Cambodian Army's attack of 59D tanks. Currently, both the Cambodian and Thai armies have increased their troops along the Thailand-Cambodia border, maintaining a tense situation. On the 24th, Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jets launched a second round of large-scale bombing targeting the Cambodian Army, reportedly bombing a Cambodian military base.

The Thai Army deployed multiple M-60 tanks to try to take control of the Kantarawiti district. It is reported that at least one M-60 tank was destroyed by the Cambodian Army and abandoned on the front line. In this battle, the Cambodian Army used drones for reconnaissance. At the Phnom Kdei Temple and Ghost Mountain checkpoint, due to the successful attack by the Thai Army, the Cambodian Army could only launch rocket artillery attacks on the Thai Army, but the Thai Army still suppressed the Cambodian artillery fire with F-16 fighter jets. At the Takao checkpoint, the Thai Army announced: "Destroyed two 59D tanks of the Cambodian Army." In the battle for Phnom Kdei Temple, the Thai Army deployed M-60 tanks for tank firepower attacks, after which the Thai Army infantry smoothly occupied the area. Meanwhile, the Thai Army attempted to cut off the cable car supply station of the Cambodian Army to Mount Eggplant, but failed. In the Angkor Wat border area, the Cambodian Army launched two consecutive attacks on the Damoang Temple, and also launched a surprise attack on the Thai Army.

It can be said that this round of large-scale war between Thailand and Cambodia has been evenly matched, with both sides having victories and defeats. The Cambodian Army relied on 59D tanks and 90B rocket launchers to suppress and attack the Thai Army, while the Thai Army relied on M-60 tanks and F-16 fighter jets to try to suppress the Cambodian Army. However, this time, both sides have fought fiercely, starting to use tanks, fighter jets, and artillery. These two countries have been fighting over a temple for so many years, and the Cambodian and Thai armies may even end up in a "Sino-centric civil war". The peculiarity of Southeast Asia is truly unimaginable. Phnom Kdei Temple is far from the major cities of both Thailand and Cambodia. Would it attract many tourists if captured? The cost of fighting for this temple is far higher than the revenue from tourism. Is Cambodia aiming for territorial cession and compensation? It's not even in the same league. Previously, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Cambodia's claim, and Thailand withdrew on its own. The fact that the International Court supported Cambodia was also something Thailand abstractly accepted. France once divided the area into its own, and Thailand actually got quite a few French maps. When the Thai prince visited the area, he even appeared in French newspapers, but Thailand didn't react or protest. Based on this, the International Court assumed that Thailand had not opposed it, and thus defaulted. The Thai government obeyed the judgment, but the army did not, hence the conflict. The Cambodian armored forces were in a terrible situation, with all T-55 and Type 59 tanks. The Thai military had a significant advantage in equipment. In border conflicts, tanks are not very useful, mainly because of artillery exchanges. It is likely that the Thai Army involved in the attack belongs to the 3rd or 6th Infantry Division, and the Thai Army's 3rd Cavalry Division using VT-4 tanks is still gathering.

Escalation of Tension between Cambodia and Thailand

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838547413070155/

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