🧵A detailed timeline on escalations in the lead-up to yesterday's clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. Much of the…

🧵A detailed timeline on escalations in the lead-up to yesterday's clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. Much of the escalation seems to stem from Cambodia, with their troops fortifying many sectors before the May 28 clashes and surging strategic assets immediately after. 🗺️ - heatmap of Cambodian military developments prior to July 24th.

2025-02-13. The immediate tensions seem to originate from an incident on February 13, when a group of Cambodian soldiers escorted civilians to visit an ancient temple. The group reportedly sang the Cambodian national anthem and was later stopped by Thai security officials.

2025-02-17. Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expressed concern over the recent provocative incident involving Cambodian troops in Ta Muen Thom, stating that he does not want the incident to escalate into a conflict.

2025-02-21. Second Army Area commander Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang visited Prasat Ta Muen Thom to give encouragement to the Suranaree Taskforce and 'build understanding with the Cambodian military'.

2025-02-28. Satellite imagery shows that between Feburary 23rd and Feburary 28th, Cambodian troops cleared and improved a frontline road at the Sam Yaek Lao junction, Chong Bok. This is the first dectable tactical improvement by Cambodian forces along the border.

2025-03-15. Around mid-March, Cambodian troops began constructing a road to the strategic Phnom Prasitthi hilltop. Opposite the Thai Khao Sattasom position

2025-03-23. Between March 18th and March 23rd, Cambodian troops heavily fortified the strategic Phnom Prasitthi hilltop base. Opposite the Thai Khao Sattasom position

2025-03-20. Cambodian defence minister General Tea Seiha postponed scheduled talks with his Thai counterpart Phumtham Wechayachai over border issues

2025-03-20. Soldiers, following a request from Thailand, removed a shack that was being used as a rest area for Cambodian patrols along the border near Boeung Trakoun. The footage shows Cambodian troops acting aggressively and pointing fingers at their Thai counterparts.

2025-03-25. Between March 15th and March 25th, Cambodian troops established a newly fortified position at Hill-641 in the Chong Bok Area, within 300m of the border.

Aerial imagery from later shows how substantial this fortified outpost is.

2025-04-07. Between March 28th and April 7th, Cambodian troops establish a secondary outpost on the road to Phomn Phrasitthi Outpost, roughly 500m from the Thai Prasat Don Tuan position.

2025-04-28. Between April 7th and April 22nd, Thai troops cleared and built a substantial new road straddling the border near Prasat Ta Muen Thom, from the temple complex to the road junction at 14.336, 103.229. This is the first tactical improvement of Thai border positions.

2025-04-29. The Thai and Cambodian infantry commanders met at Prasat Ta Muen Thom, apologised, and pledged to handle future border disputes directly without letting emotions take over.

2025-05-01. The Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee's 17th meeting in Bangkok discussed three sensitive areas: Ta Muen Thom Temple, Chong Bok, and Chong Arn Ma. Both sides verbally agreed to de-escalate by withdrawing troops and reducing reinforcements to 2024 levels.

2025-05-18. Thai troops in the Chong Bok Area discovered fortifications being dug by Cambodian troops in the overlapping claims area near Hill 745, the Cambodian troops temporarily pulled back on request from the Thai side.

2025-05-21. Between May 9th and May 21st, Cambodian troops establish a newly fortified position at Hill-745 in the Chong Bok Area

2025-05-21. Between May 14th and May 21st, Cambodian Troops fortify a new position at Hill-574.

For anyone wanting more precise coordinates of outposts in the Chong Bok area: Sam Yaek Lao: 14.34522, 105.1993 Hill-641: 14.32469. 105.17517 Hill-745: 14.30897, 105.17137 Hill-574: 14.33792, 105.17731 Hill-570: 14.34528, 105.17511 Chom Kachak Hill: 14.31824, 105.19996 Damnak Tuk Chhom Base: 14.26362, 105.15071 Battalion 393 Command HQ: 14.33972, 105.20508

2025-05-28. Early in the morning, Thai soldiers approached Cambodian troops digging fortifications on the edge of the disputed territory in Chong Bok, and a brief exchange of fire was held. A Cambodian Warrant Officer was killed in the clash.

2025-05-29. Cambodian forces began a significant movement of elite troops and strategic assets towards the Cambodian border, with Rapid Deployment Special Forces, Counter-Terrorism Special Forces, Rocket Artillery, Armoured units and Air Defence units moving towards the Preah Vihear Royal Guard Command HQ. An estimated 800-1,000 troops were surged to the theatre, with additional reserve forces ready for deployment.

2025-05-30. Cambodian forces mobilised several major artillery pieces towards the border, with around a dozen SH-1 155mm self-propelled artillery vehicles moving from the artillery command in Preah Vihear to the border, along with reconnaissance and command vehicles.

2025-05-30. Nine of these artillery vehicles moved towards the Prasat Ta Muen Thom sector, three moved towards Chong Bok.

2025-06-01. Thai Infantry Fighting Vehicles had been moved up to the border in Aranyaprathet district, for operational preparedness checks.

2025-06-03. Hing Bun Hieng, the commander of President Hun Sen's personal Royal Guard command, led more troops and artillery towards the Emerald Triangle Sector

2025-06-05. By June 5th, the Thai army had mobilised Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry divisions towards the border.

2025-06-04. The Cambodian Prime Minister clarified that Cambodia would not participate in the June 14th Joint Boundary Commission meeting. Instead, he announced plans to bring the issue to the ICJ, focusing on Chong Bok, Ta Muen Thom Temple, Ta Muen Tot Temple, and Ta Kwai Temple areas.

2025-06-05. Between May 31st and June 5th, Cambodian forces moved around 30 T-55 Tanks to the Preah Vihear border area, positioning them at the intersection between Preah Vihear temple and Phnom Prasitthi outpost

2025-06-05. A joint patrol and coordination meeting occurred near Santi Phiab. 2025-06-07. Thai Border Authorities restrict hours/uses at 3 N Thai-Cambodian border crossings. 2025-06-08. Cambodian and Thai forces agreed in the Chong Bok area to remove fortifications & return to 2024 positions.

2025-06-12. In the week to June 12th, two Joint Coordination meetings and a joint patrol were held. 2025-06-14. The Thai Army Spokesman announces that Cambodian troops had deployed long-range artillery assets to the border and aimed them at Thailand, specifically Kantharalak.

2025-06-15. Thai troops improved a road leading from Hill-469 to Hill-745. Cambodia maintains fortified positions at Hill-745, and the watershed boundary splits the peak of that hill. (Because of the monsoon season, its hard to get clear satellite imagery now)