Cambodia slams Thai shelling of Preah Vihear Temple

28 Jul 2025 3189 | Cambodia Travel News

Synopsis: Cambodia denounces Thailand’s continued assault on the Unesco-listed Preah Vihear Temple while calling for international condemnation of ‘grave and unprecedented’ damage.

The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts yesterday issued an urgent and forceful condemnation of what it calls a renewed and intensified assault by Thai armed forces on the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on the Cambodian-Thai border.

Thai forces continued to shell the temple yesterday, inflicting serious damage on the 11th-century Khmer temple.

According to a ministry statement, the temple and its sacred surroundings have suffered significant destruction due to sustained shelling by Thai forces. The statement described the damage as “grave and unprecedented,” noting that critical portions of the centuries-old structure and the surrounding cultural landscape have been either severely damaged or destroyed.

Preah Vihear Temple stands as a powerful symbol of Cambodia’s national identity.