The 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva perched on a 525-meter cliff in Cambodia’s Dangrek Mountains, and the 12th-century Ta Muen Thom temple, 95 km to the west, lie at the heart of a violent border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. These Khmer Empire-era sites, steeped in religious and cultural significance for both nations, have fueled tensions for over a century, with the latest clashes on July 24, 2025, marking the deadliest escalation in over a decade, leaving at least 14 dead and displacing over 100,000 civilians.

The conflict erupted near Ta Muen Thom in Thailand’s Surin Province when Thai forces detected a Cambodian drone, followed by the approach of armed Cambodian soldiers. Thai attempts to de-escalate failed, leading to heavy exchanges of fire, including rocket launchers and Thai F-16 airstrikes.

Cambodia claims Thai troops initiated the attack, accusing them of bombing roads near Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage site, causing “significant damage.” Both sides blame each other for violating sovereignty, with Thailand closing all border checkpoints and evacuating 40,000 civilians.

The dispute traces back to a 1907 French colonial map, which placed Preah Vihear in Cambodia, a decision upheld by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013. Thailand, while accepting the ruling, disputes the surrounding areas and claims Ta Muen Thom, a Shiva temple with a unique south-facing sanctuary, as part of its Surin Province. Cambodia insists on its historical Khmer Empire boundaries. Tensions flared in 2008 when Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO site, sparking clashes that continued into 2011, displacing thousands.

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Incidents like Cambodian soldiers singing their national anthem at Ta Muen Thom in February 2025 have heightened nationalist fervor, exacerbated by colonial-era border ambiguities. While the Joint Boundary Commission exists, diplomatic efforts have stalled, and the recent violence, including reported landmine injuries, underscores the challenge of resolving this culturally charged conflict.

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