Thailand reported on July 24, 2025 local time that the Thai army had entered Cambodia, capturing Preah Vihear Temple and a border checkpoint on Highway 62. It is currently unclear whether the Thai army has successfully broken through the defenses on the eastern side of the temple. The Cambodian army is bombarding the positions occupied by the Thai army. It is reported that Thai reinforcement forces are advancing along Highway 4120 toward the Thailand-Cambodia border. The Cambodian side said that Thai artillery was also conducting bombardment operations in the area. Meanwhile, large-scale civilian evacuations are taking place in the border provinces of Cambodia and Thailand. Both sides have decided to go to war, to fight hard. Preah Vihear Temple is a strategic high ground; whoever occupies it can gain a topographical advantage over the other, so neither side is willing to give way. Its military value is very high. Preah Vihear is a protruding corner in the mountain, with cliffs in front, but it does not belong to Thailand on the mountain, but to Cambodia below the cliff. The cliff is a natural barrier, which cannot be climbed directly, and the Cambodians need to take a detour from the side to reach the Thai side to get there.
The temple's face towards Cambodia is a steep cliff. After the Thais captured it, it's easy for them to defend. This terrain is very unfavorable for the Cambodian army. It's unclear what Cambodia was thinking, but they dared to launch a full-scale artillery attack and assault against the Thai army. This is the problem of small countries not knowing when to advance or retreat and not knowing their limits. If Thailand continues to escalate further, it will be the same. From a purely military perspective, Cambodia definitely cannot match Thailand. Cambodia's independence is entirely due to the efforts of other major powers in the region. This time, the conflict between Cambodia and the Thai army is rumored to involve a disputed territory where rare earth resources were found. It is reported that the Thai army may soon launch a second cross-border military operation. The Thai authorities have officially ordered the start of the "Yuta Bodin" operation to strike the Cambodian army.
On July 24 local time, the Kantaralak local police department in Thailand reported that the initial report on the incident of the Cambodian Army firing 122mm rocket shells: 8 people were killed and 13 injured at five locations. Currently, the joint command of Thai military and police, fire departments, local administrative agencies, and medical units are handling the scene, and have asked irrelevant civilians to evacuate the area immediately. On July 24, violent conflicts broke out in the border areas of Thailand and Cambodia, with both sides accusing each other of provocation and opening fire. The Cambodian Army fired hundreds of 122mm rocket shells into Thai territory, and the Thai Air Force then deployed six F-16 fighter jets to conduct cross-border air strikes on two main Cambodian Army frontline headquarters. It is reported that the Thai Air Force continued to send more F-16 fighter jets to conduct cross-border bombing. It is estimated that both sides will eventually turn to China, with the stronger side asking China not to interfere, and the weaker side certainly seeking China's help.
Peaceful resolution is the only way out, but territorial issues are inherently difficult to discuss, especially given the long duration, and both sides have accumulated a lot of grievances. These two neighbors have been in conflict without interruption, and solving the issue thoroughly is not simple. The border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia seem to have a big impact on the economy and people's livelihoods of both countries.
Cambodia-Thailand Tensions Escalate
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838544454474761/
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