“Operation Yuttha Bodin: Secret How Thai-Cambodian Dispute Turned Deadly 2025”

1. Historical & Political Background

• Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation The roots of the conflict trace back to colonial-era border mapping. A 1907 French map placed the Preah Vihear temple and surrounding territory within Cambodia despite natural geography suggesting otherwise. Thailand has long disputed that map, and though the International Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia’s favor in 1962 (affecting the temple itself), the surrounding boundary remained undefined
• Periodic clashes over disputed zones especially around Preah Vihear have occurred in 2008 and 2011. Tensions peaked again on May 28, 2025, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish at Chang Bok (Nam Yuen district), reigniting visceral nationalist rivalry
• From mid-June through July, diplomatic relations deteriorated: trade sanctions, cultural bans, border restrictions, and even internet and energy blackouts were exchanged
• A controversial leaked phone call on 15 June 2025, between Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia’s former PM Hun Sen (now Senate President), created domestic crisis in Thailand. Shinawatra was suspended by the Thai Constitutional Court on 1 July amid accusations of undermining national sovereignty

2. Escalation on 24 July 2025

On the morning of 24 July, what appeared to be renewed provocations triggered full-scale conflict. Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation

Early engagement & who fired first

• Thai forces reported seeing Cambodian UAVs near Prasat Ta Muen Thom, followed by six armed Cambodian soldiers approaching Thai positions. Thai defenses claim they shouted warnings before being fired upon roughly 200 m from their post. Cambodia, conversely, accused Thailand of mounting an armed incursion at the sacred site
• At around 09:40, Cambodia allegedly launched BM‑21 rockets toward Prasat Don Tuan, near a populated area; by 09:50 Cambodian troops reportedly tried to enter Thai territory near Ta Kwai temple, prompting Thai artillery response

 Airstrikes & “Operation Yuttha Bodin”

Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation

• Shortly before 11:00, Thailand deployed six F‑16 jets, which bombed Cambodian military positions in Chong An Ma, Preah Vihear area and Khao Sattasom, destroying targets including two tanks. Thai forces named the combined air-and-ground campaign “Operation Yuttha Bodin”, under General Pana Klaewblaudtuk
• A Thai drone was also reported dropping grenades on Cambodian ammunition dumps before crashing video confirmation exists of at least one successful strike

3. Casualties, Displacement & Damage

• Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation At least 12 Thai civilians were killed among them, an 8-year-old boy and two children struck by rocket fire near a petrol station in Sisaket province approximately 20 km from the border. A Thai soldier also died, and dozens of civilians and military personnel were injured (estimates: ~32 civilians, ~14 soldiers wounded)
• Cambodia reported no confirmed fatalities, though at least four civilians were injured on their side, and roughly 4,000 people were evacuated from Oddar Meanchey province by evening
• Thai officials state more than 40,000 civilians from over 80 villages near the border were relocated; many sheltered in hastily dug bunkers or concrete‑reinforced shelters in Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces

4. Diplomatic Fallout & Wider Escalation

Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation

• On 23 July, Thailand had already withdrawn its ambassador and expelled Cambodia’s envoy. On 24 July, Cambodia reciprocated by recalling all Thai diplomats and downgrading diplomatic relations to their lowest point
• Thailand closed all land border checkpoints, urging its citizens in Cambodia to evacuate immediately. Cambodia announced broad bans on Thai imports including fuel, agricultural goods, and media broadcasts

5. International Reaction & Mediation Efforts

• The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting following Cambodia’s request. ASEAN Chair Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim called for restraint, offering to mediate. China and Singapore also urged de-escalation and protection of civilians
• Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation Regional and global humanitarian bodies, including UNICEF, warned of civilian impact and called for ceasefire and compliance with the Geneva Conventions

6. Broader Context & Analysis

Military balance & escalation potential

Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation

• According to military analysts, Thailand spent nearly 200 billion baht annually on defense roughly ten times Cambodia’s budget. However, Cambodia’s recent modernization, including SH‑1 self‑propelled artillery, RM‑70 and PHL‑03 rocket systems, and KS‑1C air‑defense batteries, has narrowed the capability gap significantly (to about 1:0.8)
• Experts warn this could evolve into protracted cross-border exchanges of artillery, drone surveillance, rocket strikes, and air sorties. Neither side is willing to cede ground, raising fears of prolonged attritional conflict

Internal political instability driving escalation

• Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation Thailand is experiencing internal instability: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension after the leaked call has stoked nationalist sentiment, with public criticism of perceived Cambodian sympathies. Military-aligned factions are clashing with civilian leadership over strategy and messaging
• In Cambodia, PM Hun Manet amid increasing nationalist pressure asserted he “has no choice but to fight back” and remains personally involved in battlefield command, emphasizing Cambodia’s defensive posture

7. What Happened on 24 July — Quick Recap

Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation

Time	Event
~07:35 AM	Thai unit spots Cambodian UAVs, then soldiers approaching near Ta Muen Thom Temple.
~09:40–09:50	Cambodian rocket and infantry assaults near Don Tuan & Ta Kwai; Thai forces respond with artillery.
~10:58 AM	Six Thai F‑16s conduct bombing raid on Cambodian positions (Chong An Ma, Khao Sattasom, etc.)
11:54 AM	A gas station and a hospital in Sisaket/Surin provinces hit; Thai confirmed casualties.
Afternoon	Operation Yuttha Bodin launched, with combined air and ground operations.

 

8. Key Implications and Outlook

• Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation The conflict marks the gravest military escalation between Thailand and Cambodia in over a decade, with the potential to bleed into wider regional instability.
• Disruption of economic ties particularly in border trade, fuel, tourism, and migration has already impoverished many communities; closures have devastated livelihoods on both sides
• Long-term resolution rests heavily on whether the ICJ ruling request initiated by Cambodia (with Thailand’s refusal to accept court jurisdiction) can serve as a legal path forward or whether nationalist politics outpace diplomacy
• International stakeholders including ASEAN, the UN, and neighboring states are pushing for an urgent ceasefire, while urging respect for civilian safety and international norms.

9. Final Thoughts

Thai Cambodian 2025 Dispute Deadly Operation July 24, 2025 marked a turning point: an outbreak of violence rooted in a nearly century-old border dispute that could escalate into broader war if unchecked. With civilians bearing the brunt and nationalist fervor pressuring both governments, the coming days will determine whether diplomacy or force prevails.